diff --git a/src/server/lib/kubernetesApply/applyManifest.ts b/src/server/lib/kubernetesApply/applyManifest.ts
index 58b6d012..6adf0cd2 100644
--- a/src/server/lib/kubernetesApply/applyManifest.ts
+++ b/src/server/lib/kubernetesApply/applyManifest.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export async function createKubernetesApplyJob({
   const kc = new k8s.KubeConfig();
   kc.loadFromDefault();
   const batchApi = kc.makeApiClient(k8s.BatchV1Api);
-  const shortSha = deploy.sha?.substring(0, 7) || '';
+  const shortSha = deploy.sha?.substring(0, 7) || 'unknown';
   const jobName = `${deploy.uuid}-deploy-${jobId}-${shortSha}`.substring(0, 63);
   const serviceName = deploy.deployable?.name || deploy.service?.name || '';