diff --git a/CHANGES/195.bugfix b/CHANGES/195.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1442d43b53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/195.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix KeyError lookup in namespace and collection viewset
diff --git a/galaxy_ng/app/api/ui/viewsets/collection.py b/galaxy_ng/app/api/ui/viewsets/collection.py
index 14240d0bad..034aab12ed 100644
--- a/galaxy_ng/app/api/ui/viewsets/collection.py
+++ b/galaxy_ng/app/api/ui/viewsets/collection.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from django.db.models import Exists, OuterRef, Q
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
+from django.http import Http404
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
 from django_filters import filters
 from django_filters.rest_framework import filterset, DjangoFilterBackend, OrderingFilter
@@ -50,8 +51,12 @@ class CollectionViewSet(
 
     def get_queryset(self):
         """Returns a CollectionVersions queryset for specified distribution."""
-        distro_content = self.get_distro_content(self.kwargs["path"])
-        repo_version = self.get_repository_version(self.kwargs["path"])
+        path = self.kwargs.get('path')
+        if path is None:
+            raise Http404("Distribution base path is required")
+
+        distro_content = self.get_distro_content(path)
+        repo_version = self.get_repository_version(path)
 
         versions = CollectionVersion.objects.filter(pk__in=distro_content).values_list(
             "collection_id",
diff --git a/galaxy_ng/app/api/v3/viewsets/namespace.py b/galaxy_ng/app/api/v3/viewsets/namespace.py
index 2dc16eef5f..8dda6da8fd 100644
--- a/galaxy_ng/app/api/v3/viewsets/namespace.py
+++ b/galaxy_ng/app/api/v3/viewsets/namespace.py
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ def get_serializer_class(self):
     @transaction.atomic
     def create(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         """Override to validate for name duplication before serializer validation."""
-        name = request.data['name']
-        if models.Namespace.objects.filter(name=name).exists():
+        name = request.data.get('name')
+        if name and models.Namespace.objects.filter(name=name).exists():
             # Ensures error raised is 409, not 400.
             raise ConflictError(
                 detail={'name': f'A namespace named {name} already exists.'}