diff --git a/fdroidserver/metadata.py b/fdroidserver/metadata.py
index 11549865..4b62878e 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/metadata.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/metadata.py
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ fieldtypes = {
     'MaintainerNotes': TYPE_MULTILINE,
     'Categories': TYPE_LIST,
     'AntiFeatures': TYPE_STRINGMAP,
+    'RequiresRoot': TYPE_BOOL,
     'AllowedAPKSigningKeys': TYPE_LIST,
     'Builds': TYPE_BUILD,
     'VercodeOperation': TYPE_LIST,
diff --git a/tests/update.TestCase b/tests/update.TestCase
index 24cb4a3c..7c4e4518 100755
--- a/tests/update.TestCase
+++ b/tests/update.TestCase
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ class UpdateTest(unittest.TestCase):
                         'NoSourceSince': '',
                         'Repo': '',
                         'RepoType': '',
-                        'RequiresRoot': '',
+                        'RequiresRoot': None,
                         'SourceCode': '',
                         'Summary': 'rocks.janicerand',
                         'Translation': '',