diff --git a/nf_core/pipelines/lint/__init__.py b/nf_core/pipelines/lint/__init__.py
index 82361565f4..f243743846 100644
--- a/nf_core/pipelines/lint/__init__.py
+++ b/nf_core/pipelines/lint/__init__.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def _load_lint_config(self) -> bool:
         # Check if we have any keys that don't match lint test names
         if self.lint_config is not None:
             for k, v in self.lint_config:
-                if k != "nfcore_components" and k not in self.lint_tests:
+                if v is not None and k != "nfcore_components" and k not in self.lint_tests:
                     # nfcore_components is an exception to allow custom pipelines without nf-core components
                     log.warning(f"Found unrecognised test name '{k}' in pipeline lint config")
                     is_correct = False
diff --git a/tests/pipelines/lint/test_files_exist.py b/tests/pipelines/lint/test_files_exist.py
index eb1ba9a17e..ebc529247e 100644
--- a/tests/pipelines/lint/test_files_exist.py
+++ b/tests/pipelines/lint/test_files_exist.py
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ def test_files_exist_missing_main(self):
     def test_files_exist_deprecated_file(self):
         """Check whether deprecated file issues warning"""
 
-        nf = Path(self.new_pipeline, "parameters.settings.json")
-        nf.touch()
+        Path(self.new_pipeline, "parameters.settings.json").touch()
 
         assert self.lint_obj._load()