diff --git a/src/pretix/base/models/items.py b/src/pretix/base/models/items.py
index 603dc652d7..a9d59c24cf 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/models/items.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/models/items.py
@@ -412,7 +412,8 @@ class Item(LoggedModel):
     )
     sales_channels = fields.MultiStringField(
         verbose_name=_('Sales channels'),
-        default=['web']
+        default=['web'],
+        blank=True,
     )
     issue_giftcard = models.BooleanField(
         verbose_name=_('This product is a gift card'),
diff --git a/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py b/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py
index 82b3da9cd1..8c527cc3bf 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py
+++ b/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ class ItemUpdateForm(I18nModelForm):
         self.fields['description'].widget.attrs['rows'] = '4'
         self.fields['sales_channels'] = forms.MultipleChoiceField(
             label=_('Sales channels'),
+            required=False,
             choices=(
                 (c.identifier, c.verbose_name) for c in get_all_sales_channels().values()
             ),