diff --git a/proto/zitadel/management.proto b/proto/zitadel/management.proto
index 18f0553eab..a31d33a36e 100644
--- a/proto/zitadel/management.proto
+++ b/proto/zitadel/management.proto
@@ -3165,7 +3165,7 @@ message UpdateHumanEmailResponse {
 
 message ResendHumanInitializationRequest {
     string user_id = 1 [(validate.rules).string = {min_len: 1, max_len: 200}];
-    string email = 2 [(validate.rules).string.email = true];
+    string email = 2 [(validate.rules).string = {ignore_empty: true, email: true}];
 }
 
 message ResendHumanInitializationResponse {