diff --git a/pulp_file/app/serializers.py b/pulp_file/app/serializers.py
index e29d93cc1b..27b61d56db 100644
--- a/pulp_file/app/serializers.py
+++ b/pulp_file/app/serializers.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class FilePublicationSerializer(PublicationSerializer):
         required=False,
         allow_null=True,
     )
-    checkpoint = serializers.BooleanField(default=False)
+    checkpoint = serializers.BooleanField(required=False)
 
     class Meta:
         model = FilePublication
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class FileDistributionSerializer(DistributionSerializer):
         queryset=models.Publication.objects.exclude(complete=False),
         allow_null=True,
     )
-    checkpoint = serializers.BooleanField(default=False)
+    checkpoint = serializers.BooleanField(required=False)
 
     class Meta:
         fields = DistributionSerializer.Meta.fields + ("publication", "checkpoint")
diff --git a/pulp_file/app/tasks/publishing.py b/pulp_file/app/tasks/publishing.py
index 3893fe580a..3b40f4a969 100644
--- a/pulp_file/app/tasks/publishing.py
+++ b/pulp_file/app/tasks/publishing.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def publish(manifest, repository_version_pk, checkpoint=False):
     Args:
         manifest (str): Filename to use for manifest file.
         repository_version_pk (str): Create a publication from this repository version.
+        checkpoint (bool): Whether to create a checkpoint publication.
 
     """
     repo_version = RepositoryVersion.objects.get(pk=repository_version_pk)
diff --git a/pulp_file/app/viewsets.py b/pulp_file/app/viewsets.py
index a71a6c1eae..86b7ef4a3a 100644
--- a/pulp_file/app/viewsets.py
+++ b/pulp_file/app/viewsets.py
@@ -435,14 +435,13 @@ def create(self, request):
         manifest = serializer.validated_data.get("manifest")
         checkpoint = serializer.validated_data.get("checkpoint")
 
+        kwargs = {"repository_version_pk": str(repository_version.pk), "manifest": manifest}
+        if checkpoint:
+            kwargs["checkpoint"] = True
         result = dispatch(
             tasks.publish,
             shared_resources=[repository_version.repository],
-            kwargs={
-                "repository_version_pk": str(repository_version.pk),
-                "manifest": manifest,
-                "checkpoint": checkpoint,
-            },
+            kwargs=kwargs,
         )
         return OperationPostponedResponse(result, request)
 
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/migrations/0129_distribution_checkpoint_publication_checkpoint.py b/pulpcore/app/migrations/0130_distribution_checkpoint_publication_checkpoint.py
similarity index 91%
rename from pulpcore/app/migrations/0129_distribution_checkpoint_publication_checkpoint.py
rename to pulpcore/app/migrations/0130_distribution_checkpoint_publication_checkpoint.py
index c0c3ea9f4c..48bf83ecaf 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/migrations/0129_distribution_checkpoint_publication_checkpoint.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/migrations/0130_distribution_checkpoint_publication_checkpoint.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 class Migration(migrations.Migration):
 
     dependencies = [
-        ("core", "0128_domain_pulp_labels"),
+        ("core", "0129_content_pulp_labels"),
     ]
 
     operations = [
diff --git a/pulpcore/tests/functional/api/using_plugin/test_checkpoint.py b/pulpcore/tests/functional/api/using_plugin/test_checkpoint.py
index 32b6814f53..2a4563f718 100644
--- a/pulpcore/tests/functional/api/using_plugin/test_checkpoint.py
+++ b/pulpcore/tests/functional/api/using_plugin/test_checkpoint.py
@@ -132,10 +132,8 @@ def test_checkpoint_artifact_is_served(self, setup, http_get, checkpoint_url):
 
         assert pub_2_response == pub_1_response
         lines = pub_1_response.strip().split("\n")
-        artifact_names = [line.split(",")[0] for line in lines]
-        assert len(artifact_names) == 2
-        assert "0" in artifact_names
-        assert "1" in artifact_names
+        artifact_names = {line.split(",")[0] for line in lines}
+        assert artifact_names == {"0", "1"}
 
     @pytest.mark.parallel
     def test_non_checkpoint_timestamp_is_redirected(self, setup, http_get, checkpoint_url):