diff --git a/src/lib/components/chat/MessageInput/InputVariablesModal.svelte b/src/lib/components/chat/MessageInput/InputVariablesModal.svelte
index 53f4ec02dc..4554ea72d3 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/chat/MessageInput/InputVariablesModal.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/chat/MessageInput/InputVariablesModal.svelte
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 											<div class=" self-center text-xs font-medium">
 												{variable}
 
-												{#if variables[variable]?.required ?? true}
+												{#if variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 													<span class=" text-gray-500">*{$i18n.t('required')}</span>
 												{/if}
 											</div>
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
 															placeholder={$i18n.t('Enter value (true/false)')}
 															bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 															autocomplete="off"
-															required
+															required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														/>
 													</div>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'color'}
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
 															placeholder={$i18n.t('Enter hex color (e.g. #FF0000)')}
 															bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 															autocomplete="off"
-															required
+															required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														/>
 													</div>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'date'}
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'datetime-local'}
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'email'}
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'month'}
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'number'}
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'range'}
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
 															placeholder={$i18n.t('Enter value')}
 															bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 															autocomplete="off"
-															required
+															required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														/>
 													</div>
 
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'text'}
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'time'}
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'url'}
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														{...variableAttributes}
 													/>
 												{:else if variables[variable]?.type === 'map'}
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@
 															placeholder={$i18n.t('Enter coordinates (e.g. 51.505, -0.09)')}
 															bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 															autocomplete="off"
-															required
+															required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 														/>
 													</div>
 												{:else}
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@
 														bind:value={variableValues[variable]}
 														autocomplete="off"
 														id="input-variable-{idx}"
-														required
+														required={variables[variable]?.required ?? false}
 													/>
 												{/if}
 											</div>
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/index.ts b/src/lib/utils/index.ts
index 85e41d3c38..09bab3cf56 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/index.ts
@@ -1408,24 +1408,39 @@ export const parseVariableDefinition = (definition: string): Record<string, any>
 	// Parse type (explicit or implied)
 	const type = firstPart.startsWith('type=') ? firstPart.slice(5) : firstPart;
 
-	// Parse properties using reduce
-	const properties = propertyParts.reduce((props, part) => {
-		// Use splitProperties for the equals sign as well, in case there are nested quotes
-		const equalsParts = splitProperties(part, '=');
-		const [propertyName, ...valueParts] = equalsParts;
-		const propertyValue = valueParts.join('='); // Handle values with = signs
+	// Parse properties; support both key=value and bare flags (e.g., ":required")
+	const properties = propertyParts.reduce(
+		(props, part) => {
+			const trimmed = part.trim();
+			if (!trimmed) return props;
 
-		return propertyName && propertyValue
-			? {
-					...props,
-					[propertyName.trim()]: parseJsonValue(propertyValue.trim())
+			// Use splitProperties for the equals sign as well, in case there are nested quotes
+			const equalsParts = splitProperties(trimmed, '=');
+
+			if (equalsParts.length === 1) {
+				// It's a flag with no value, e.g. "required" -> true
+				const flagName = equalsParts[0].trim();
+				if (flagName.length > 0) {
+					return { ...props, [flagName]: true };
 				}
-			: props;
-	}, {});
+				return props;
+			}
+
+			const [propertyName, ...valueParts] = equalsParts;
+			const propertyValueRaw = valueParts.join('='); // Handle values with extra '='
+
+			if (!propertyName || propertyValueRaw == null) return props;
+
+			return {
+				...props,
+				[propertyName.trim()]: parseJsonValue(propertyValueRaw.trim())
+			};
+		},
+		{} as Record<string, any>
+	);
 
 	return { type, ...properties };
 };
-
 export const parseJsonValue = (value: string): any => {
 	// Remove surrounding quotes if present (for string values)
 	if (value.startsWith('"') && value.endsWith('"')) {