diff --git a/pkg/appview/storage/manifest_store.go b/pkg/appview/storage/manifest_store.go
index a452d4e..44ec3d2 100644
--- a/pkg/appview/storage/manifest_store.go
+++ b/pkg/appview/storage/manifest_store.go
@@ -304,29 +304,37 @@ func (s *ManifestStore) notifyHoldAboutManifest(ctx context.Context, manifestRec
 	serviceToken := s.ctx.ServiceToken
 
 	// Build notification request
+	manifestData := map[string]any{
+		"mediaType": manifestRecord.MediaType,
+	}
+
+	// Add config if present (not present in manifest lists/indexes)
+	if manifestRecord.Config != nil {
+		manifestData["config"] = map[string]any{
+			"digest": manifestRecord.Config.Digest,
+			"size":   manifestRecord.Config.Size,
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Add layers if present
+	if len(manifestRecord.Layers) > 0 {
+		layers := make([]map[string]any, len(manifestRecord.Layers))
+		for i, layer := range manifestRecord.Layers {
+			layers[i] = map[string]any{
+				"digest":    layer.Digest,
+				"size":      layer.Size,
+				"mediaType": layer.MediaType,
+			}
+		}
+		manifestData["layers"] = layers
+	}
+
 	notifyReq := map[string]any{
 		"repository": s.ctx.Repository,
 		"tag":        tag,
 		"userDid":    s.ctx.DID,
 		"userHandle": s.ctx.Handle,
-		"manifest": map[string]any{
-			"mediaType": manifestRecord.MediaType,
-			"config": map[string]any{
-				"digest": manifestRecord.Config.Digest,
-				"size":   manifestRecord.Config.Size,
-			},
-			"layers": func() []map[string]any {
-				layers := make([]map[string]any, len(manifestRecord.Layers))
-				for i, layer := range manifestRecord.Layers {
-					layers[i] = map[string]any{
-						"digest":    layer.Digest,
-						"size":      layer.Size,
-						"mediaType": layer.MediaType,
-					}
-				}
-				return layers
-			}(),
-		},
+		"manifest":   manifestData,
 	}
 
 	// Marshal request