diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/gitrepository_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/gitrepository_types.go
index 7636df0f9..ccd6f4430 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/gitrepository_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/gitrepository_types.go
@@ -61,20 +61,20 @@ type GitRepositorySpec struct {
 type GitRepositoryRef struct {
 	// The git branch to checkout, defaults to master.
 	// +optional
-	Branch string `json:"branch"`
+	Branch string `json:"branch,omitempty"`
 
 	// The git tag to checkout, takes precedence over branch.
 	// +optional
-	Tag string `json:"tag"`
+	Tag string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
 
 	// The git tag semver expression, takes precedence over tag.
 	// +optional
-	SemVer string `json:"semver"`
+	SemVer string `json:"semver,omitempty"`
 
 	// The git commit sha to checkout, if specified tag filters will be
 	// ignored.
 	// +optional
-	Commit string `json:"commit"`
+	Commit string `json:"commit,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // GitRepositoryVerification defines the OpenPGP signature verification process.