diff --git a/examples/config.py b/examples/config.py
index 8eb1f266..3aa837f9 100644
--- a/examples/config.py
+++ b/examples/config.py
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ of applications from the main repository.
 """
 
 
-#The key (from the keystore defined below) to be used for signing the
-#repository itself. Can be None for an unsigned repository.
-repo_keyalias = None
+# The key (from the keystore defined below) to be used for signing the
+# repository itself.  This is the same name you would give to keytool or
+# jarsigner using -alias.  (Not needed in an unsigned repository).
+#repo_keyalias = "fdroidrepo"
 
 #The keystore to use for release keys when building. This needs to be
 #somewhere safe and secure, and backed up!
diff --git a/fdroidserver/update.py b/fdroidserver/update.py
index 6e54bbc0..fb90c504 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/update.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/update.py
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ def make_index(apps, apks, repodir, archive, categories):
     repoel.setAttribute("version", "12")
     repoel.setAttribute("timestamp", str(int(time.time())))
 
-    if config['repo_keyalias']:
+    if 'repo_keyalias' in config:
 
         # Generate a certificate fingerprint the same way keytool does it
         # (but with slightly different formatting)
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ def make_index(apps, apks, repodir, archive, categories):
     of.write(output)
     of.close()
 
-    if config['repo_keyalias'] is not None:
+    if 'repo_keyalias' in config:
 
         logging.info("Creating signed index.")
         logging.info("Key fingerprint: %s" % repo_pubkey_fingerprint)