diff --git a/app/controllers/repp/v1/contacts_controller.rb b/app/controllers/repp/v1/contacts_controller.rb
index a6cd7d07d..504948ed9 100644
--- a/app/controllers/repp/v1/contacts_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/repp/v1/contacts_controller.rb
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ module Repp
       end
 
       def contact_ident_params(required: true)
-        if required
+        if required || !params[:contact][:ident].nil?
           params.require(:contact).require(:ident).require(%i[ident ident_type ident_country_code])
           params.require(:contact).require(:ident).permit(:ident, :ident_type, :ident_country_code)
         else