diff --git a/roles/bodhi2/backend/templates/mash.conf b/roles/bodhi2/backend/templates/mash.conf
index fbbe0b5f5a..9d9e820d78 100644
--- a/roles/bodhi2/backend/templates/mash.conf
+++ b/roles/bodhi2/backend/templates/mash.conf
@@ -10,5 +10,9 @@ configdir = /etc/bodhi/
 repodir = /mnt/koji
 fork = True
 use_sqlite = True
+{% if env == 'staging' %}
+strict_keys = False
+{% else %}
 strict_keys = True
+{% endif %}
 max_delta_rpm_size = 1500000000