diff --git a/pygitweb/main.py b/pygitweb/main.py
index 87121d7..f4ac2cf 100644
--- a/pygitweb/main.py
+++ b/pygitweb/main.py
@@ -305,6 +305,8 @@ def board_create_page(
 
 # ---------- Add project ----------
 
+_OPTIONAL_REPO_ZIP = File(default=None)
+
 
 @app.get("/projectnamevalid", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 def addproject_namevalid(request: Request):
@@ -338,7 +340,7 @@ async def addproject_submit(
 	pull_from_remote: Annotated[str, Form()] = "",
 	perform_maintenance: Annotated[str, Form()] = "off",
 	create_task_board: Annotated[str, Form()] = "off",
-	repo_zip: UploadFile | None = File(default=None),
+	repo_zip: UploadFile | None = _OPTIONAL_REPO_ZIP,
 ):
 	"""
 	Create a new project. Allowed only if project name does not exist,