diff --git a/app/models/katello/host/content_facet.rb b/app/models/katello/host/content_facet.rb
index ae25d2fd1e9..0fdea8d25eb 100644
--- a/app/models/katello/host/content_facet.rb
+++ b/app/models/katello/host/content_facet.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class ContentFacet < Katello::Model
       validates_associated :content_view_environment_content_facets, :message => _("invalid: The content source must sync the lifecycle environment assigned to the host. See the logs for more information.")
       validates :host, :presence => true, :allow_blank => false
       validates :bootc_booted_digest, :bootc_available_digest, :bootc_staged_digest, :bootc_rollback_digest,
-                format: { with: /\Asha256:[A-Fa-f0-9]{64}\z/, message: "must be a valid sha256 digest", allow_nil: true }
+                format: { with: /\Asha256:[A-Fa-f0-9]{64}\z/, message: "must be a valid sha256 digest", allow_blank: true }
 
       scope :with_environments, ->(lifecycle_environments) do
         joins(:content_view_environment_content_facets => :content_view_environment).
diff --git a/test/models/concerns/host_managed_extensions_test.rb b/test/models/concerns/host_managed_extensions_test.rb
index ae6227ea8a3..de2f42e6de5 100644
--- a/test/models/concerns/host_managed_extensions_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/concerns/host_managed_extensions_test.rb
@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@ def test_pools_expiring_in_days
       assert_includes ::Host.search_for('pools_expiring_in_days = 30'), host_with_pool
     end
 
+    def test_bootc_allow_blank
+      host_no_image = FactoryBot.create(:host, :with_content, :with_subscription, :content_view => @library_view, :lifecycle_environment => @library)
+      Support::HostSupport.attach_content_facet(@foreman_host, @view, @library)
+      @foreman_host.content_facet.update(bootc_booted_image: 'quay.io/salami/soup')
+      @foreman_host.content_facet.update(bootc_booted_digest: '')
+      assert @foreman_host.content_facet.image_mode_host?
+    end
+
     def test_image_mode_search
       host_no_image = FactoryBot.create(:host, :with_content, :with_subscription, :content_view => @library_view, :lifecycle_environment => @library)
       Support::HostSupport.attach_content_facet(@foreman_host, @view, @library)