diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse.Servers.GameServer/Controllers/Slots/PublishController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse.Servers.GameServer/Controllers/Slots/PublishController.cs
index 5ad61e75..6af03657 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse.Servers.GameServer/Controllers/Slots/PublishController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse.Servers.GameServer/Controllers/Slots/PublishController.cs
@@ -122,12 +122,6 @@ public class PublishController : ControllerBase
         // Yes Rider, this isn't null
         Debug.Assert(slot.Resources != null, "slot.ResourceList != null");
 
-        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(slot.BackgroundHash))
-        {
-            Logger.Warn("Rejecting level upload, background is null", LogArea.Publish);
-            return this.BadRequest();
-        }
-
         slot.Description = CensorHelper.FilterMessage(slot.Description);
 
         if (slot.Description.Length > 512)
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Serialization/GameUserSlot.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Serialization/GameUserSlot.cs
index 9faecb52..a70793a1 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Serialization/GameUserSlot.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Serialization/GameUserSlot.cs
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public class GameUserSlot : SlotBase, INeedsPreparationForSerialization
 
     [DefaultValue("")]
     [XmlElement("background")]
-    public string? BackgroundHash { get; set; }
+    public string BackgroundHash { get; set; } = "";
 
     [XmlElement("shareable")]
     public int IsShareable { get; set; }