diff --git a/pephub/routers/api/v1/namespace.py b/pephub/routers/api/v1/namespace.py
index 7f36f447..613a6e11 100644
--- a/pephub/routers/api/v1/namespace.py
+++ b/pephub/routers/api/v1/namespace.py
@@ -228,7 +228,10 @@ async def upload_raw_pep(
         overwrite = project_from_json.overwrite
         pep_schema = project_from_json.pep_schema
         if hasattr(project_from_json, NAME_KEY):
-            name = project_from_json.name
+            if project_from_json.name:
+                name = project_from_json.name
+            else:
+                name = project_from_json.pep_dict.config.get(NAME_KEY)
         else:
             name = project_from_json.pep_dict.config.get(NAME_KEY)
         if hasattr(project_from_json, DESC_KEY):