diff --git a/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini b/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
index 148c1eeb92..7d3f20d421 100644
--- a/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
+++ b/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
@@ -2468,6 +2468,7 @@ settings.protected_branch = Branch protection
 settings.protected_branch.save_rule = Save rule
 settings.protected_branch.delete_rule = Delete rule
 settings.branch_protection = Protection rules for branch "<b>%s</b>"
+settings.protect_new_rule = Create a new branch protection rule
 settings.protect_this_branch = Enable branch protection
 settings.protect_this_branch_desc = Prevents deletion and restricts Git pushing and merging to the branch.
 settings.protect_disable_push = Disable push
@@ -2479,26 +2480,26 @@ settings.protect_enable_merge_desc = Anyone with write access will be allowed to
 settings.protect_whitelist_committers = Whitelist restricted push
 settings.protect_whitelist_committers_desc = Only whitelisted users or teams will be allowed to push to this branch (but not force push).
 settings.protect_whitelist_deploy_keys = Whitelist deploy keys with write access to push.
-settings.protect_whitelist_users = Whitelisted users for pushing:
-settings.protect_whitelist_teams = Whitelisted teams for pushing:
+settings.protect_whitelist_users = Whitelisted users for pushing
+settings.protect_whitelist_teams = Whitelisted teams for pushing
 settings.protect_merge_whitelist_committers = Enable merge whitelist
 settings.protect_merge_whitelist_committers_desc = Allow only whitelisted users or teams to merge pull requests into this branch.
-settings.protect_merge_whitelist_users = Whitelisted users for merging:
-settings.protect_merge_whitelist_teams = Whitelisted teams for merging:
+settings.protect_merge_whitelist_users = Whitelisted users for merging
+settings.protect_merge_whitelist_teams = Whitelisted teams for merging
 settings.protect_check_status_contexts = Enable status check
-settings.protect_status_check_patterns = Status check patterns:
+settings.protect_status_check_patterns = Status check patterns
 settings.protect_status_check_patterns_desc = Enter patterns to specify which status checks must pass before branches can be merged into a branch that matches this rule. Each line specifies a pattern. Patterns cannot be empty.
 settings.protect_check_status_contexts_desc = Require status checks to pass before merging. When enabled, commits must first be pushed to another branch, then merged or pushed directly to a branch that matches this rule after status checks have passed. If no contexts are matched, the last commit must be successful regardless of context.
 settings.protect_check_status_contexts_list = Status checks found in the last week for this repository
 settings.protect_status_check_matched = Matched
 settings.protect_invalid_status_check_pattern = Invalid status check pattern: "%s".
 settings.protect_no_valid_status_check_patterns = No valid status check patterns.
-settings.protect_required_approvals = Required approvals:
+settings.protect_required_approvals = Required approvals
 settings.protect_required_approvals_desc = Allow only to merge pull request with enough positive reviews.
 settings.protect_approvals_whitelist_enabled = Restrict approvals to whitelisted users or teams
 settings.protect_approvals_whitelist_enabled_desc = Only reviews from whitelisted users or teams will count to the required approvals. Without approval whitelist, reviews from anyone with write access count to the required approvals.
-settings.protect_approvals_whitelist_users = Whitelisted reviewers:
-settings.protect_approvals_whitelist_teams = Whitelisted teams for reviews:
+settings.protect_approvals_whitelist_users = Whitelisted reviewers
+settings.protect_approvals_whitelist_teams = Whitelisted teams for reviews
 settings.dismiss_stale_approvals = Dismiss stale approvals
 settings.dismiss_stale_approvals_desc = When new commits that change the content of the pull request are pushed to the branch, old approvals will be dismissed.
 settings.ignore_stale_approvals = Ignore stale approvals
@@ -2508,9 +2509,9 @@ settings.require_signed_commits_desc = Reject pushes to this branch if they are
 settings.protect_branch_name_pattern = Protected branch name pattern
 settings.protect_branch_name_pattern_desc = Protected branch name patterns. See <a href="https://github.com/gobwas/glob">the documentation</a> for pattern syntax. Examples: main, release/**
 settings.protect_patterns = Patterns
-settings.protect_protected_file_patterns = Protected file patterns (separated using semicolon ";"):
+settings.protect_protected_file_patterns = Protected file patterns (separated using semicolon ";")
 settings.protect_protected_file_patterns_desc = Protected files are not allowed to be changed directly even if user has rights to add, edit, or delete files in this branch. Multiple patterns can be separated using semicolon (";"). See <a href="https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/gobwas/glob#Compile">github.com/gobwas/glob</a> documentation for pattern syntax. Examples: <code>.drone.yml</code>, <code>/docs/**/*.txt</code>.
-settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns = Unprotected file patterns (separated using semicolon ";"):
+settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns = Unprotected file patterns (separated using semicolon ";")
 settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns_desc = Unprotected files that are allowed to be changed directly if user has write access, bypassing push restriction. Multiple patterns can be separated using semicolon (";"). See <a href="https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/gobwas/glob#Compile">github.com/gobwas/glob</a> documentation for pattern syntax. Examples: <code>.drone.yml</code>, <code>/docs/**/*.txt</code>.
 settings.add_protected_branch = Enable protection
 settings.delete_protected_branch = Disable protection
diff --git a/templates/repo/settings/protected_branch.tmpl b/templates/repo/settings/protected_branch.tmpl
index 89e4c7f971..3e0f626922 100644
--- a/templates/repo/settings/protected_branch.tmpl
+++ b/templates/repo/settings/protected_branch.tmpl
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 {{template "repo/settings/layout_head" (dict "ctxData" . "pageClass" "repository settings branches")}}
 	<div class="repo-setting-content">
 		<h4 class="ui top attached header">
-			{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.branch_protection" .Rule.RuleName}}
+			{{if .Rule.RuleName}}
+				{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.branch_protection" .Rule.RuleName}}
+			{{else}}
+				{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.settings.protect_new_rule"}}
+			{{end}}
 		</h4>
 		<form class="ui form attached segment" action="{{.Link}}" method="post">
 			{{.CsrfTokenHtml}}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/repo-settings.test.e2e.js b/tests/e2e/repo-settings.test.e2e.js
index ac8d37a671..b7b0884b26 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/repo-settings.test.e2e.js
+++ b/tests/e2e/repo-settings.test.e2e.js
@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@ test('repo branch protection settings', async ({browser}, workerInfo) => {
   const response = await page.goto('/user2/repo1/settings/branches/edit');
   await expect(response?.status()).toBe(200);
 
-  // not yet accessible :(
-  // await validate_form({page}, 'fieldset');
+  await validate_form({page}, 'fieldset');
+
+  // verify header is new
+  await expect(page.locator('h4')).toContainText('new');
+  await page.locator('input[name="rule_name"]').fill('testrule');
+  await page.getByText('Save rule').click();
+  // verify header is in edit mode
+  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
+  await page.getByText('Edit').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('h4')).toContainText('Protection rules for branch');
+  // delete the rule for the next test
+  await page.goBack();
+  await page.getByText('Delete rule').click();
+  await page.getByText('Yes').click();
 });
diff --git a/tests/e2e/shared/forms.js b/tests/e2e/shared/forms.js
index 37ec797faf..586dd0ca38 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/shared/forms.js
+++ b/tests/e2e/shared/forms.js
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@ import AxeBuilder from '@axe-core/playwright';
 export async function validate_form({page}, scope) {
   scope ??= 'form';
   const accessibilityScanResults = await new AxeBuilder({page})
+    // disable checking for link style - should be fixed, but not now
+    .disableRules('link-in-text-block')
     .include(scope)
     // exclude automated tooltips from accessibility scan, remove when fixed
     .exclude('span[data-tooltip-content')
+    // exclude weird non-semantic HTML disabled content
+    .exclude('.disabled')
     .analyze();
   expect(accessibilityScanResults.violations).toEqual([]);
 
@@ -17,4 +21,10 @@ export async function validate_form({page}, scope) {
     await expect(b).toHaveCSS('margin-top', '0px');
     await expect(b).toHaveCSS('vertical-align', 'baseline');
   }
+  // assert no (trailing) colon is used in labels
+  // might be necessary to adjust in case colons are strictly necessary in help text
+  for (const l of await page.locator('label').all()) {
+    const str = await l.textContent();
+    await expect(str.split('\n')[0]).not.toContain(':');
+  }
 }