diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 0e1c84c2..e9dc4ce8 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.17.3-develop176
+1.17.3-develop177
diff --git a/defaults/overlays/templates.yml b/defaults/overlays/templates.yml
index ee34045f..5fd68ddd 100644
--- a/defaults/overlays/templates.yml
+++ b/defaults/overlays/templates.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ templates:
       - queue
       - weight
       - font_style
+      - horizontal_offset
+      - horizontal_align
+      - vertical_offset
+      - vertical_align
       - stroke_width
       - stroke_color
       - back_color
diff --git a/modules/overlay.py b/modules/overlay.py
index bf05fbe2..1c02db1a 100644
--- a/modules/overlay.py
+++ b/modules/overlay.py
@@ -436,13 +436,11 @@ class Overlay:
             else:
                 return value
 
-        if new_cords is None:
-            ho = self.horizontal_offset
-            ha = self.horizontal_align
-            vo = self.vertical_offset
-            va = self.vertical_align
-        else:
-            ha, ho, va, vo = new_cords
+        ho = new_cords[0] if new_cords and self.horizontal_offset is None else self.horizontal_offset
+        ha = new_cords[1] if new_cords and self.horizontal_align is None else self.horizontal_align
+        vo = new_cords[2] if new_cords and self.vertical_offset is None else self.vertical_offset
+        va = new_cords[3] if new_cords and self.vertical_align is None else self.vertical_align
+
         return get_cord(ho, canvas_box[0], box[0], ha), get_cord(vo, canvas_box[1], box[1], va)
 
     def get_canvas(self, item):
diff --git a/modules/util.py b/modules/util.py
index 5c2ea471..766cca92 100644
--- a/modules/util.py
+++ b/modules/util.py
@@ -777,9 +777,14 @@ def parse(error, attribute, data, datatype=None, methods=None, parent=None, defa
 
 def parse_cords(data, parent, required=False):
     horizontal_align = parse("Overlay", "horizontal_align", data["horizontal_align"], parent=parent,
-                             options=["left", "center", "right"]) if "horizontal_align" in data else "left"
+                             options=["left", "center", "right"]) if "horizontal_align" in data else None
+    if required and horizontal_align is None:
+        raise Failed(f"Overlay Error: {parent} horizontal_align is required")
+
     vertical_align = parse("Overlay", "vertical_align", data["vertical_align"], parent=parent,
-                           options=["top", "center", "bottom"]) if "vertical_align" in data else "top"
+                           options=["top", "center", "bottom"]) if "vertical_align" in data else None
+    if required and vertical_align is None:
+        raise Failed(f"Overlay Error: {parent} vertical_align is required")
 
     horizontal_offset = None
     if "horizontal_offset" in data and data["horizontal_offset"] is not None:
@@ -799,8 +804,6 @@ def parse_cords(data, parent, required=False):
         elif horizontal_align == "center" and per and (x_off > 50 or x_off < -50):
             raise Failed(f"{error} between -50% and 50%")
         horizontal_offset = f"{x_off}%" if per else x_off
-    if horizontal_offset is None and horizontal_align == "center":
-        horizontal_offset = 0
     if required and horizontal_offset is None:
         raise Failed(f"Overlay Error: {parent} horizontal_offset is required")
 
@@ -822,8 +825,6 @@ def parse_cords(data, parent, required=False):
         elif vertical_align == "center" and per and (y_off > 50 or y_off < -50):
             raise Failed(f"{error} between -50% and 50%")
         vertical_offset = f"{y_off}%" if per else y_off
-    if vertical_offset is None and vertical_align == "center":
-        vertical_offset = 0
     if required and vertical_offset is None:
         raise Failed(f"Overlay Error: {parent} vertical_offset is required")