diff --git a/backend/api/serializers/docker_serializer.py b/backend/api/serializers/docker_serializer.py
index 3dfdce99..dc1f2a66 100644
--- a/backend/api/serializers/docker_serializer.py
+++ b/backend/api/serializers/docker_serializer.py
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ def validate(self, attrs):
 
         if not self.partial:
             data["owner"] = self.context["request"].user
-        else:
-            data["owner"] = data["owner"] if "owner" in data else self.instance.owner
+        elif "owner" not in data:
+            data["owner"] = self.instance.owner
 
         if "public" in data and data["public"] and not data["owner"].is_staff:
             raise ValidationError(_("docker.errors.custom"))