diff --git a/ui/src/pages/AppsTab/AppsTab.tsx b/ui/src/pages/AppsTab/AppsTab.tsx
index 69e70aae..33f981ed 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/AppsTab/AppsTab.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/AppsTab/AppsTab.tsx
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ function CreateAppView({ environments, selectedEnv }: { environments: Environmen
     if (p && !ports.includes(p)) { setPorts([...ports, p]); setNewPort(''); }
   }
 
-  const canSubmit = name.trim() && slug.trim() && envId && file;
+  const canSubmit = name.trim() && slug.trim() && envId && (file || !deploy);
 
   async function handleSubmit() {
     if (!canSubmit) return;
@@ -261,9 +261,12 @@ function CreateAppView({ environments, selectedEnv }: { environments: Environmen
       setStep('Creating app...');
       const app = await createApp.mutateAsync({ environmentId: envId, slug: slug.trim(), displayName: name.trim() });
 
-      // 2. Upload JAR
-      setStep('Uploading JAR...');
-      const version = await uploadJar.mutateAsync({ appId: app.slug, file: file! });
+      // 2. Upload JAR (if provided)
+      let version: AppVersion | null = null;
+      if (file) {
+        setStep('Uploading JAR...');
+        version = await uploadJar.mutateAsync({ appId: app.slug, file });
+      }
 
       // 3. Save container config
       setStep('Saving configuration...');
@@ -307,8 +310,8 @@ function CreateAppView({ environments, selectedEnv }: { environments: Environmen
         environment: selectedEnv,
       });
 
-      // 5. Deploy (if requested)
-      if (deploy) {
+      // 5. Deploy (if requested and JAR was uploaded)
+      if (deploy && version) {
         setStep('Starting deployment...');
         await createDeployment.mutateAsync({ appId: app.slug, appVersionId: version.id, environmentId: envId });
       }