diff --git a/oxdbarchive/model.py b/oxdbarchive/model.py
index 7260cdf..29b6d1f 100644
--- a/oxdbarchive/model.py
+++ b/oxdbarchive/model.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ class ArchiveFile(SQLObject):
   ALTER TABLE archive_file CHANGE srt srt LONGTEXT;
   '''
   md5sum = UnicodeCol(length=128, alternateID=True)
-  sha1sum = UnicodeCol(length=40)
+  sha1sum = UnicodeCol(length=40, default='')
   oxdb = UnicodeCol(length=128)
   path = UnicodeCol()
   date = DateTimeCol()