diff --git a/src/wuttafarm/web/views/animals.py b/src/wuttafarm/web/views/animals.py
index 76e0335..8f05584 100644
--- a/src/wuttafarm/web/views/animals.py
+++ b/src/wuttafarm/web/views/animals.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class AnimalAssetView(AssetMasterView):
         f.set_node("animal_type", AnimalTypeRef(self.request))
 
         # sex
-        if self.viewing and animal.sex is None:
+        if not (self.creating or self.editing) and animal.sex is None:
             pass  # TODO: dict enum widget does not handle null values well
         else:
             f.set_node("sex", WuttaDictEnum(self.request, enum.ANIMAL_SEX))