diff --git a/boards/forms.py b/boards/forms.py
--- a/boards/forms.py
+++ b/boards/forms.py
@@ -333,11 +333,11 @@ class ThreadForm(PostForm):
 
         required_tag_exists = False
         for tag in tags.split():
-            tag_model = Tag.objects.filter(name=tag.strip().lower(),
-                                           required=True)
-            if tag_model.exists():
-                required_tag_exists = True
+            try:
+                Tag.objects.get(name=tag.strip().lower(), required=True)
                 break
+            except ObjectDoesNotExist:
+                pass
 
         if not required_tag_exists:
             all_tags = Tag.objects.filter(required=True)