diff --git a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/EditItem.cs b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/EditItem.cs
index 6f80e49e..37d89c25 100644
--- a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/EditItem.cs
+++ b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/EditItem.cs
@@ -840,6 +840,11 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 		//private void HandleSqlExceptionOnDelete(System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException ex)
 		private void HandleSqlExceptionOnDelete(Exception ex)
 		{
+			this.MyStepRTB.InsertSymbol(@"\u160?");  // since text was deleted, insert a hard space to prevent a looping effect B2016-082
+			using (Item itm = MyStepRTB.MyItemInfo.Get())
+			{
+				Annotation x = Annotation.MakeAnnotation(itm, AnnotationType.GetByName("Verification Required"), null, "A Hard Space was put in to keep the Transitions referencing here valid. \nPlease remove or re-assign these transitions before deleting this step.", null);
+			}
 			if (ex.Message.Contains("has External Transitions and has no next step"))
 			{
 				using (TransitionInfoList exTrans = TransitionInfoList.GetExternalTransitions(MyID))
@@ -852,7 +857,6 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 					if (ans == DialogResult.Yes)
 					{
 						MyStepPanel.MyStepTabPanel.MyDisplayTabControl.OpenItem(exTrans[0].MyContent.ContentItems[0]);
-
 					}
 					else
 						SetFocus();