diff --git a/kiwi_metainfo_helper b/kiwi_metainfo_helper
index 06101d2..21dfc65 100644
--- a/kiwi_metainfo_helper
+++ b/kiwi_metainfo_helper
@@ -132,10 +132,13 @@ fi
 if [ -f containers/annotation ]; then
     REGISTRY_REFNAME="$(sed -n 's/.*<registry_refname>\([^<]*\)<.*/\1/p' < containers/annotation)"
     REGISTRY_DIGEST="$(sed -n 's/.*<registry_digest>\(.*\)<.*/\1/p' < containers/annotation)"
-    sed -i"" \
-        -e "s#%BASE_REFNAME%#${REGISTRY_REFNAME}#g" \
-        -e "s#%BASE_DIGEST%#${REGISTRY_DIGEST}#g" \
-        "${files[@]}"
+
+    if [ -n "$REGISTRY_DIGEST" ]; then
+        sed -i"" \
+            -e "s#%BASE_REFNAME%#${REGISTRY_REFNAME}#g" \
+            -e "s#%BASE_DIGEST%#${REGISTRY_DIGEST}#g" \
+            "${files[@]}"
+    fi
 fi
 
 sed -i"" \
diff --git a/obs-service-kiwi_metainfo_helper.changes b/obs-service-kiwi_metainfo_helper.changes
index f56fa9d..93d98e0 100644
--- a/obs-service-kiwi_metainfo_helper.changes
+++ b/obs-service-kiwi_metainfo_helper.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Mon Sep 30 14:13:12 UTC 2024 - Dirk Müller <dmueller@suse.com>
+
+- don't replace %BASE_DIGEST% with empty string when not available
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Wed Sep 25 09:01:19 UTC 2024 - Fabian Vogt <fvogt@suse.com>