diff --git a/src/ert/gui/ertwidgets/models/targetensemblemodel.py b/src/ert/gui/ertwidgets/models/targetensemblemodel.py
index 140047c65a2..c12cf101563 100644
--- a/src/ert/gui/ertwidgets/models/targetensemblemodel.py
+++ b/src/ert/gui/ertwidgets/models/targetensemblemodel.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def __init__(
 
     def setValue(self, value: Optional[str]) -> None:
         """Set a new target ensemble"""
-        if not value or not value.strip() or value == self.getDefaultValue():
+        if value == self.getDefaultValue():
             self._custom = False
             ValueModel.setValue(self, self.getDefaultValue())
         else:
diff --git a/src/ert/gui/simulation/ensemble_smoother_panel.py b/src/ert/gui/simulation/ensemble_smoother_panel.py
index 9eb78d13636..7d61a5a78fc 100644
--- a/src/ert/gui/simulation/ensemble_smoother_panel.py
+++ b/src/ert/gui/simulation/ensemble_smoother_panel.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._ensemble_format_field = StringBox(
             self._ensemble_format_model,  # type: ignore
             self._ensemble_format_model.getDefaultValue(),  # type: ignore
+            continuous_update=True,
         )
         self._ensemble_format_field.setValidator(ProperNameFormatArgument())
         layout.addRow("Ensemble format:", self._ensemble_format_field)
diff --git a/src/ert/gui/simulation/iterated_ensemble_smoother_panel.py b/src/ert/gui/simulation/iterated_ensemble_smoother_panel.py
index a4b5579517e..db7df1dac28 100644
--- a/src/ert/gui/simulation/iterated_ensemble_smoother_panel.py
+++ b/src/ert/gui/simulation/iterated_ensemble_smoother_panel.py
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ def __init__(
         )
         self._iterated_target_ensemble_format_field = StringBox(
             self._iterated_target_ensemble_format_model,  # type: ignore
-            "config/simulation/iterated_target_ensemble_format",
+            self._iterated_target_ensemble_format_model.getDefaultValue(),  # type: ignore
+            continuous_update=True,
         )
         self._iterated_target_ensemble_format_field.setValidator(
             ProperNameFormatArgument()
diff --git a/src/ert/gui/simulation/manual_update_panel.py b/src/ert/gui/simulation/manual_update_panel.py
index fb71946e043..b96f75db15f 100644
--- a/src/ert/gui/simulation/manual_update_panel.py
+++ b/src/ert/gui/simulation/manual_update_panel.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._ensemble_format_field = StringBox(
             self._ensemble_format_model,  # type: ignore
             self._ensemble_format_model.getDefaultValue(),  # type: ignore
+            continuous_update=True,
         )
         self._ensemble_format_field.setValidator(ProperNameFormatArgument())
         layout.addRow("Ensemble format:", self._ensemble_format_field)
diff --git a/src/ert/gui/simulation/multiple_data_assimilation_panel.py b/src/ert/gui/simulation/multiple_data_assimilation_panel.py
index e07d01a31b4..d5204b1de11 100644
--- a/src/ert/gui/simulation/multiple_data_assimilation_panel.py
+++ b/src/ert/gui/simulation/multiple_data_assimilation_panel.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._target_ensemble_format_field = StringBox(
             self._target_ensemble_format_model,  # type: ignore
             self._target_ensemble_format_model.getDefaultValue(),  # type: ignore
+            continuous_update=True,
         )
         self._target_ensemble_format_field.setValidator(ProperNameFormatArgument())
         layout.addRow("Target ensemble format:", self._target_ensemble_format_field)