diff --git a/ant-cli/src/commands/register.rs b/ant-cli/src/commands/register.rs
index 0aad3ab844..17c30b2559 100644
--- a/ant-cli/src/commands/register.rs
+++ b/ant-cli/src/commands/register.rs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ pub async fn create(name: &str, value: &str, public: bool, peers: Vec<Multiaddr>
         let permissions = RegisterPermissions::new_anyone_can_write();
         client
             .register_create_with_permissions(
-                value.as_bytes().to_vec().into(),
+                Some(value.as_bytes().to_vec().into()),
                 name,
                 register_key,
                 permissions,
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ pub async fn create(name: &str, value: &str, public: bool, peers: Vec<Multiaddr>
         info!("With private write access");
         client
             .register_create(
-                value.as_bytes().to_vec().into(),
+                Some(value.as_bytes().to_vec().into()),
                 name,
                 register_key,
                 &wallet,
diff --git a/ant-node/tests/data_with_churn.rs b/ant-node/tests/data_with_churn.rs
index 64b3064350..053102fb81 100644
--- a/ant-node/tests/data_with_churn.rs
+++ b/ant-node/tests/data_with_churn.rs
@@ -285,7 +285,12 @@ fn create_registers_task(
             let mut retries = 1;
             loop {
                 match client
-                    .register_create(random_data.clone(), &random_name, owner.clone(), &wallet)
+                    .register_create(
+                        Some(random_data.clone()),
+                        &random_name,
+                        owner.clone(),
+                        &wallet,
+                    )
                     .await
                 {
                     Ok(register) => {
diff --git a/ant-node/tests/verify_data_location.rs b/ant-node/tests/verify_data_location.rs
index 0a82634ffe..a15a0e18be 100644
--- a/ant-node/tests/verify_data_location.rs
+++ b/ant-node/tests/verify_data_location.rs
@@ -396,7 +396,12 @@ async fn store_registers(
             .map(char::from)
             .collect();
         let register = client
-            .register_create(vec![1, 2, 3, 4].into(), &rand_name, key.clone(), wallet)
+            .register_create(
+                Some(vec![1, 2, 3, 4].into()),
+                &rand_name,
+                key.clone(),
+                wallet,
+            )
             .await?;
 
         println!("Created Register at {:?}", register.address());
diff --git a/autonomi/src/client/registers.rs b/autonomi/src/client/registers.rs
index 8a032399a5..0d19fb27fe 100644
--- a/autonomi/src/client/registers.rs
+++ b/autonomi/src/client/registers.rs
@@ -265,12 +265,12 @@ impl Client {
         RegisterAddress::new(name, pk)
     }
 
-    /// Creates a new Register with a name and an initial value and uploads it to the network.
+    /// Creates a new Register with a name and optional initial value and uploads it to the network.
     ///
     /// The Register is created with the owner as the only writer.
     pub async fn register_create(
         &self,
-        value: Bytes,
+        value: Option<Bytes>,
         name: &str,
         owner: RegisterSecretKey,
         wallet: &EvmWallet,
@@ -282,12 +282,12 @@ impl Client {
             .await
     }
 
-    /// Creates a new Register with a name and an initial value and uploads it to the network.
+    /// Creates a new Register with a name and optional initial value and uploads it to the network.
     ///
     /// Unlike `register_create`, this function allows you to specify the permissions for the register.
     pub async fn register_create_with_permissions(
         &self,
-        value: Bytes,
+        value: Option<Bytes>,
         name: &str,
         owner: RegisterSecretKey,
         permissions: RegisterPermissions,
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ impl Client {
         let name = XorName::from_content_parts(&[name.as_bytes()]);
 
         // Owner can write to the register.
-        let register = Register::new(Some(value), name, owner, permissions)?;
+        let register = Register::new(value, name, owner, permissions)?;
         let address = register.address();
 
         let reg_xor = address.xorname();
diff --git a/autonomi/tests/register.rs b/autonomi/tests/register.rs
index 266908c293..e698809d46 100644
--- a/autonomi/tests/register.rs
+++ b/autonomi/tests/register.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,12 @@ async fn register() -> Result<()> {
         .map(char::from)
         .collect();
     let register = client
-        .register_create(vec![1, 2, 3, 4].into(), &rand_name, key.clone(), &wallet)
+        .register_create(
+            Some(vec![1, 2, 3, 4].into()),
+            &rand_name,
+            key.clone(),
+            &wallet,
+        )
         .await
         .unwrap();