diff --git a/client/src/pages/learningPath/learningContentPage/feedback/FeedbackBlock.vue b/client/src/pages/learningPath/learningContentPage/feedback/FeedbackBlock.vue
index 96e35d57..b8d3ba88 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/learningPath/learningContentPage/feedback/FeedbackBlock.vue
+++ b/client/src/pages/learningPath/learningContentPage/feedback/FeedbackBlock.vue
@@ -165,7 +165,19 @@ const nextStep = () => {
 function hasStepValidInput(stepNumber: number) {
   const question = questionData[stepNumber - 1];
   if (question) {
-    return feedbackData[question.modelKey] !== null;
+    if (
+      [
+        "instructor_open_feedback",
+        "course_negative_feedback",
+        "course_positive_feedback",
+      ].includes(question.modelKey)
+    ) {
+      // text response questions need to have a "truthy" value (not "" or null)
+      return feedbackData[question.modelKey];
+    } else {
+      // other responses need to have data, can be `0` or `false`
+      return feedbackData[question.modelKey] !== null;
+    }
   }
   return true;
 }