diff --git a/CHANGES/647.bugfix b/CHANGES/647.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf7186e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/647.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed default docker compose file not launching when PULP_SIGNING_KEY_FINGERPRINT was unset.
diff --git a/images/assets/add_signing_service.sh b/images/assets/add_signing_service.sh
index c40b07b1..5a950424 100755
--- a/images/assets/add_signing_service.sh
+++ b/images/assets/add_signing_service.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 /usr/bin/wait_on_postgres.py
 /usr/bin/wait_on_database_migrations.sh
 
-if [ -n "${PULP_SIGNING_KEY_FINGERPRINT}" ]; then
+if [ -n "${PULP_SIGNING_KEY_FINGERPRINT-}" ]; then
   /usr/local/bin/pulpcore-manager add-signing-service "${COLLECTION_SIGNING_SERVICE}" /var/lib/pulp/scripts/collection_sign.sh "${PULP_SIGNING_KEY_FINGERPRINT}"
   /usr/local/bin/pulpcore-manager add-signing-service "${CONTAINER_SIGNING_SERVICE}" /var/lib/pulp/scripts/container_sign.sh "${PULP_SIGNING_KEY_FINGERPRINT}" --class container:ManifestSigningService
 fi