Drop-down list and error message

[Schoueps]

Hi all,
I have a question concerning drop-down list and error message. I have two lists (range name: Status1 and Status2), the lists to be shown in cell A2 depends on wether cell B2 is empty or not (in B2 user can write what he wants, no drop-down list).
To create the drop-down list in cell A2 I wrote the following: =IF($B9="",Status1,Status2).
It works fine. The problem I encounter is the error message not showing up if the user enters in A2 a value that doesn't correspond to list items (although the box for error is checked). Actually when B2 contains a value and then I enter a value in A2 that is wrong, the error message appears, if B2 is empty, any value can be entered (no error message) althoug only items from Status1 should be accepted.
I don't understand what's going on.
Thanks a lot for your input and help !

 

[J.Ty.]

After many experiments, the following seems to be a solution:
The dialog to create the data validation list contains checkbox "Ignore blanks". If you un-check it, then the data validation starts behaving correctly.

J.Ty.

 

[Schoueps]

Indeed that is the solution! Thank you very much J.Ty.