diff --git a/rhodecode/model/forms.py b/rhodecode/model/forms.py
--- a/rhodecode/model/forms.py
+++ b/rhodecode/model/forms.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ from rhodecode import BACKENDS
 import formencode
 import logging
 import os
+import re
 import rhodecode.lib.helpers as h
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -71,7 +72,16 @@ def ValidUsername(edit, old_data):
                                                case_insensitive=True):
                     raise formencode.Invalid(_('This username already exists') ,
                                              value, state)
-
+            
+            
+            if re.match(r'^[a-zA-Z0-9]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9\-]+$', value) is None:
+                raise formencode.Invalid(_('Username may only contain '
+                                      'alphanumeric characters '
+                                      'or dashes and cannot begin with a dash'),
+                                      value, state)
+            
+            
+            
     return _ValidUsername
 
 class ValidPassword(formencode.validators.FancyValidator):
diff --git a/rhodecode/public/css/style.css b/rhodecode/public/css/style.css
--- a/rhodecode/public/css/style.css
+++ b/rhodecode/public/css/style.css
@@ -2303,6 +2303,7 @@ display:block;
 color:red;
 margin:8px 0 0;
 padding:0;
+width: 320px;
 }
 
 #login div.form div.fields div.field div.label label,#register div.form div.fields div.field div.label label {