diff --git a/ceod/api/positions.py b/ceod/api/positions.py
index 93b757f..a194565 100644
--- a/ceod/api/positions.py
+++ b/ceod/api/positions.py
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ def update_positions():
     required = cfg.get('positions_required')
     available = cfg.get('positions_available')
 
+    # remove falsy values
+    body = {
+        positions: username for positions, username in body.items()
+        if username
+    }
+
     for position in body.keys():
         if position not in available:
             return {
@@ -36,7 +42,7 @@ def update_positions():
             }, 400
 
     for position in required:
-        if not body.get(position):
+        if position not in body:
             return {
                 'error': f'missing required position: {position}'
             }, 400
diff --git a/ceod/transactions/members/UpdateMemberPositionsTransaction.py b/ceod/transactions/members/UpdateMemberPositionsTransaction.py
index d38400f..32ac77e 100644
--- a/ceod/transactions/members/UpdateMemberPositionsTransaction.py
+++ b/ceod/transactions/members/UpdateMemberPositionsTransaction.py
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ class UpdateMemberPositionsTransaction(AbstractTransaction):
         # Reverse the dict so it's easier to use (username -> positions)
         self.positions = defaultdict(list)
         for position, username in positions_reversed.items():
-            if username is not None:
-                self.positions[username].append(position)
+            self.positions[username].append(position)
 
         # a cached Dict of the Users who need to be modified (username -> User)
         self.users: Dict[str, IUser] = {}