diff --git a/pyxis/create_container_image.py b/pyxis/create_container_image.py
index 14ca564..f5b1df0 100755
--- a/pyxis/create_container_image.py
+++ b/pyxis/create_container_image.py
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@ def pyxis_tags(args, date_now):
     ]
 
 
-def repository_digest_values(args, docker_image_digest):
+def repository_digest_values(args):
     """Return digest values for the repository entry in the image entity"""
     result = {"manifest_schema2_digest": args.architecture_digest}
     if args.media_type in MANIFEST_LIST_TYPES:
-        result["manifest_list_digest"] = docker_image_digest
+        result["manifest_list_digest"] = args.digest
     return result
 
 
@@ -261,12 +261,10 @@ def create_container_image(args, parsed_data: Dict[str, Any]):
 
     date_now = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f+00:00")
 
-    if "digest" not in parsed_data:
-        raise Exception("Digest was not found in the passed oras manifest json")
     if "name" not in parsed_data:
         raise Exception("Name was not found in the passed oras manifest json")
-    docker_image_digest = parsed_data["digest"]
-    # digest isn't accepted in the parsed_data payload to pyxis
+
+    # digest isn't accepted in the parsed_data payload to pyxis; we ignore it
     del parsed_data["digest"]
 
     image_name = parsed_data["name"]
@@ -305,9 +303,7 @@ def create_container_image(args, parsed_data: Dict[str, Any]):
         "uncompressed_top_layer_id": uncompressed_top_layer_id,
     }
 
-    container_image_payload["repositories"][0].update(
-        repository_digest_values(args, docker_image_digest)
-    )
+    container_image_payload["repositories"][0].update(repository_digest_values(args))
 
     # For images released to registry.redhat.io we need a second repository item
     # with published=true and registry and repository converted.
@@ -343,7 +339,6 @@ def add_container_image_repository(args, parsed_data: Dict[str, Any], image: Dic
     date_now = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f+00:00")
 
     image_name = parsed_data["name"]
-    docker_image_digest = parsed_data["digest"]
 
     patch_url = urljoin(args.pyxis_url, f"v1/images/id/{identifier}")
 
@@ -356,7 +351,7 @@ def add_container_image_repository(args, parsed_data: Dict[str, Any], image: Dic
             "tags": pyxis_tags(args, date_now),
         }
     )
-    image["repositories"][-1].update(repository_digest_values(args, docker_image_digest))
+    image["repositories"][-1].update(repository_digest_values(args))
 
     rsp = pyxis.patch(patch_url, image).json()
 
diff --git a/pyxis/test_create_container_image.py b/pyxis/test_create_container_image.py
index ed843d6..b761264 100644
--- a/pyxis/test_create_container_image.py
+++ b/pyxis/test_create_container_image.py
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ def test_create_container_image_latest(mock_datetime, mock_post):
     args.certified = "false"
     args.is_latest = "true"
     args.rh_push = "false"
+    args.digest = "some_digest"
     args.architecture_digest = "arch specific digest"
     args.media_type = "application/vnd.oci.image.index.v1+json"
 
@@ -266,6 +267,7 @@ def test_create_container_image_rh_push_multiple_tags(mock_datetime, mock_post):
     args.tags = "tagprefix tagprefix-timestamp"
     args.certified = "false"
     args.rh_push = "true"
+    args.digest = "some_digest"
     args.architecture_digest = "arch specific digest"
     args.media_type = "application/vnd.oci.image.index.v1+json"