diff --git a/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/bom.py b/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/bom.py
index d953697e2e..045e5bc95a 100644
--- a/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/bom.py
+++ b/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/bom.py
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ class BOM(WebsiteGenerator):
 		self.set_bom_material_details()
 		self.set_bom_scrap_items_detail()
 		self.validate_materials()
+		self.validate_transfer_against()
 		self.set_routing_operations()
 		self.validate_operations()
 		self.calculate_cost()
@@ -690,6 +691,12 @@ class BOM(WebsiteGenerator):
 			if act_pbom and act_pbom[0][0]:
 				frappe.throw(_("Cannot deactivate or cancel BOM as it is linked with other BOMs"))
 
+	def validate_transfer_against(self):
+		if not self.with_operations:
+			self.transfer_material_against = "Work Order"
+		if not self.transfer_material_against and not self.is_new():
+			frappe.throw(_("Setting {} is required").format(self.meta.get_label("transfer_material_against")), title=_("Missing value"))
+
 	def set_routing_operations(self):
 		if self.routing and self.with_operations and not self.operations:
 			self.get_routing()
diff --git a/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/test_bom.py b/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/test_bom.py
index 7d90933dbc..c77a0dd232 100644
--- a/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/test_bom.py
+++ b/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/bom/test_bom.py
@@ -403,6 +403,35 @@ class TestBOM(ERPNextTestCase):
 
 		new_bom.delete()
 
+	def test_valid_transfer_defaults(self):
+		bom_with_op = frappe.db.get_value("BOM", {"item": "_Test FG Item 2", "with_operations": 1, "is_active": 1})
+		bom = frappe.copy_doc(frappe.get_doc("BOM", bom_with_op), ignore_no_copy=False)
+
+		# test defaults
+		bom.docstatus = 0
+		bom.transfer_material_against = None
+		bom.insert()
+		self.assertEqual(bom.transfer_material_against, "Work Order")
+
+		bom.reload()
+		bom.transfer_material_against = None
+		with self.assertRaises(frappe.ValidationError):
+			bom.save()
+		bom.reload()
+
+		# test saner default
+		bom.transfer_material_against = "Job Card"
+		bom.with_operations = 0
+		bom.save()
+		self.assertEqual(bom.transfer_material_against, "Work Order")
+
+		# test no value on existing doc
+		bom.transfer_material_against = None
+		bom.with_operations = 0
+		bom.save()
+		self.assertEqual(bom.transfer_material_against, "Work Order")
+
+
 def get_default_bom(item_code="_Test FG Item 2"):
 	return frappe.db.get_value("BOM", {"item": item_code, "is_active": 1, "is_default": 1})
 
diff --git a/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/work_order/work_order.py b/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/work_order/work_order.py
index 170454c823..93ca805e34 100644
--- a/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/work_order/work_order.py
+++ b/erpnext/manufacturing/doctype/work_order/work_order.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class WorkOrder(Document):
 		self.validate_warehouse_belongs_to_company()
 		self.calculate_operating_cost()
 		self.validate_qty()
+		self.validate_transfer_against()
 		self.validate_operation_time()
 		self.status = self.get_status()
 
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ class WorkOrder(Document):
 
 		self.set_required_items(reset_only_qty = len(self.get("required_items")))
 
+
 	def validate_sales_order(self):
 		if self.sales_order:
 			self.check_sales_order_on_hold_or_close()
@@ -625,6 +627,16 @@ class WorkOrder(Document):
 		if not self.qty > 0:
 			frappe.throw(_("Quantity to Manufacture must be greater than 0."))
 
+	def validate_transfer_against(self):
+		if not self.docstatus == 1:
+			# let user configure operations until they're ready to submit
+			return
+		if not self.operations:
+			self.transfer_material_against = "Work Order"
+		if not self.transfer_material_against:
+			frappe.throw(_("Setting {} is required").format(self.meta.get_label("transfer_material_against")), title=_("Missing value"))
+
+
 	def validate_operation_time(self):
 		for d in self.operations:
 			if not d.time_in_mins > 0: