diff --git a/src/database/model/serializers.py b/src/database/model/serializers.py
index 693cc218d..79ef48cf6 100644
--- a/src/database/model/serializers.py
+++ b/src/database/model/serializers.py
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ def deserialize(
             raise ValueError(
                 "Expected a single value. Do you need to use FindByNameDeserializerList instead?"
             )
+        if not name.strip():
+            # Silently reject empty values instead of storing them as a term.
+            return None
         name = name.lower()
         query = select(self.clazz).where(self.clazz.name == name)
         item = session.scalars(query).first()
@@ -232,7 +235,8 @@ def deserialize(
             return []
         if not isinstance(name, list):
             raise ValueError("Expected a list. Do you need to use FindByNameDeserializer instead?")
-        names = {n if self.case_sensitive else n.casefold() for n in name}
+        # Empty values are silently rejected instead of being stored as a term.
+        names = {n if self.case_sensitive else n.casefold() for n in name if n.strip()}
         query = select(self.clazz).where(self.clazz.name.in_(names))  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
         existing = list(session.scalars(query).all())
         if self.case_sensitive:
diff --git a/src/tests/routers/generic/test_router_relations.py b/src/tests/routers/generic/test_router_relations.py
index d3ca3c648..b744ee0e7 100644
--- a/src/tests/routers/generic/test_router_relations.py
+++ b/src/tests/routers/generic/test_router_relations.py
@@ -227,6 +227,26 @@ def test_post_happy_path(client_with_testobject: TestClient, auto_publish: None)
     assert related_objects[1]["field2"] == "val2.2"
 
 
+def test_post_empty_enum_values_are_rejected(
+    client_with_testobject: TestClient, auto_publish: None
+):
+    with logged_in_user():
+        response = client_with_testobject.post(
+            "/test_resources",
+            json={
+                "title": "title",
+                "named_string": "",
+                "named_string_list": ["", "1", "  ", ""],
+                "related_objects": [],
+            },
+            headers={"Authorization": "Fake token"},
+        )
+    assert response.status_code == 200, response.json()
+    obj = client_with_testobject.get("/test_resources?direction=asc").json()[-1]
+    assert "named_string" not in obj
+    assert obj["named_string_list"] == ["1"]
+
+
 def test_put_happy_path(test_objects: list[TestObject], client_with_testobject: TestClient, auto_publish: None):
     identifier = test_objects[3].identifier
     with logged_in_user(kc_user_with_roles("update_test_resources")):