diff --git a/CHANGES/1874.bugfix b/CHANGES/1874.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a6c6e5713
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/1874.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fixed an issue in `DOCKER_MANIFEST_V1_SCHEMA` definition where the optional `jwk` header parameter
+was defined as required.
diff --git a/pulp_container/app/json_schemas.py b/pulp_container/app/json_schemas.py
index 76f18e2a5..d299d2ca0 100644
--- a/pulp_container/app/json_schemas.py
+++ b/pulp_container/app/json_schemas.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def get_descriptor_schema(
                     "header": {
                         "type": "object",
                         "properties": {"alg": {"type": "string"}, "jwk": {"type": "object"}},
-                        "required": ["alg", "jwk"],
+                        "required": ["alg"],
                     },
                     "signature": {"type": "string"},
                 },