diff --git a/packages/backend/src/registry.ts b/packages/backend/src/registry.ts
index ac437e25..a342b1a0 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/registry.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/registry.ts
@@ -265,12 +265,15 @@ export class Registry {
       throw new Error(`No record found for ${lrn}`);
     }
 
-    const hash = await this.generateConfigHash(
-      data.environmentVariables,
-      data.requesterAddress,
-      data.publicKey,
-      data.apiUrl,
-    );
+    let hash;
+    if (Object.keys(data.environmentVariables).length !== 0) {
+      hash = await this.generateConfigHash(
+        data.environmentVariables,
+        data.requesterAddress,
+        data.publicKey,
+        data.apiUrl,
+      );
+    }
 
     // Create record of type ApplicationDeploymentRequest and publish
     const applicationDeploymentRequest = {
@@ -281,9 +284,7 @@ export class Registry {
       dns: data.dns,
 
       // https://git.vdb.to/cerc-io/laconic-registry-cli/commit/129019105dfb93bebcea02fde0ed64d0f8e5983b
-      config: JSON.stringify({
-        ref: hash,
-      }),
+      config: JSON.stringify(hash ? { ref: hash } : {}),
       meta: JSON.stringify({
         note: `Added by Snowball @ ${DateTime.utc().toFormat(
           "EEE LLL dd HH:mm:ss 'UTC' yyyy"
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/service.ts b/packages/backend/src/service.ts
index 0a09c27e..bdc23ad1 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/service.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/service.ts
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ export class Service {
 
         if (oldDNSDeployment) {
           // Send removal request for the previous DNS deployment and delete DB entry
-          if (oldDNSDeployment.url === deployment.url) {
+          if (oldDNSDeployment.url !== deployment.url) {
             await this.laconicRegistry.createApplicationDeploymentRemovalRequest({
               deploymentId: oldDNSDeployment.applicationDeploymentRecordId!,
               deployerLrn: oldDNSDeployment.deployer.deployerLrn,