diff --git a/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/package.py b/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/package.py
index 71bad563d..f53712a46 100644
--- a/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/package.py
+++ b/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/package.py
@@ -335,21 +335,26 @@ def validate(self, data):
         sign_package = validated_data.get("sign_package")
         temp_uploaded_file = validated_data.get("file")
         associated_repo = validated_data.get("repository")
-        signing_service_pk = associated_repo.package_signing_service.pk
-        signing_fingerprint = associated_repo.package_signing_pubkey
-        if sign_package is True and not temp_uploaded_file:
-            raise serializers.ValidationError(
-                _("To sign a package on upload, a file must be provided.")
-            )
-        if not signing_service_pk and not signing_fingerprint:
-            raise serializers.ValidationError(
-                _(
-                    "To sign a package on upload, the related Repository should have"
-                    "both 'package_signing_service' and 'package_signing_pubkey' set."
+        if sign_package is True:
+            if not temp_uploaded_file:
+                raise serializers.ValidationError(
+                    _("To sign a package on upload, a file must be provided.")
                 )
-            )
-        validated_data["signing_service_pk"] = signing_service_pk
-        validated_data["signing_fingerprint"] = signing_fingerprint
+            if not associated_repo:
+                raise serializers.ValidationError(
+                    _("To sign a package on upload, you should provide a Repository.")
+                )
+            signing_service_pk = associated_repo.package_signing_service.pk
+            signing_fingerprint = associated_repo.package_signing_pubkey
+            if not signing_service_pk and not signing_fingerprint:
+                raise serializers.ValidationError(
+                    _(
+                        "To sign a package on upload, the related Repository should have"
+                        "both 'package_signing_service' and 'package_signing_pubkey' set."
+                    )
+                )
+            validated_data["signing_service_pk"] = signing_service_pk
+            validated_data["signing_fingerprint"] = signing_fingerprint
         return validated_data
 
     def create(self, validated_data):
diff --git a/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/repository.py b/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/repository.py
index 65911c882..73fe662e5 100644
--- a/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/repository.py
+++ b/pulp_rpm/app/serializers/repository.py
@@ -72,9 +72,8 @@ class RpmRepositorySerializer(RepositorySerializer):
             "The signing service will use that on signing operations related to this repository."
         ),
         max_length=40,
-        min_length=40,
         required=False,
-        allow_null=True,
+        allow_blank=True,
     )
     retain_package_versions = serializers.IntegerField(
         help_text=_(