diff --git a/tests/test_roledb.py b/tests/test_roledb.py
index 1e53e918..e270ea60 100755
--- a/tests/test_roledb.py
+++ b/tests/test_roledb.py
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ def tearDown(self):
 
   def test_create_roledb(self):
     # Verify that a roledb is created for a named repository.
-    print('roledb: ' + repr(tuf.roledb._roledb_dict))
     self.assertEqual(1, len(tuf.roledb._roledb_dict))
     self.assertTrue('default' in tuf.roledb._roledb_dict)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_updater.py b/tests/test_updater.py
index 896ba300..cce18876 100755
--- a/tests/test_updater.py
+++ b/tests/test_updater.py
@@ -1075,8 +1075,6 @@ def test_6_download_target(self):
     # 'download_targetfileinfo' object being tested.
     if 'custom' in target_fileinfo['fileinfo']: 
       download_targetfileinfo['custom'] = target_fileinfo['fileinfo']['custom']
-    print('target_fileinfo: ' + repr(target_fileinfo['fileinfo']))
-    print('\ndownload_targetfileinfo: ' + repr(download_targetfileinfo))
 
     self.assertEqual(target_fileinfo['fileinfo'], download_targetfileinfo)
 
diff --git a/tuf/sig.py b/tuf/sig.py
index 1e3d9dd7..88f526a9 100755
--- a/tuf/sig.py
+++ b/tuf/sig.py
@@ -97,9 +97,11 @@ def get_signature_status(signable, role=None, repository_name='default'):
   # all dict keys are properly named.  Raise 'tuf.FormatError' if the check
   # fails.
   tuf.formats.SIGNABLE_SCHEMA.check_match(signable)
-  tuf.formats.ROLENAME_SCHEMA.check_match(role)
   tuf.formats.NAME_SCHEMA.check_match(repository_name)
 
+  if role is not None:
+    tuf.formats.ROLENAME_SCHEMA.check_match(role)
+  
   # The signature status dictionary returned.
   signature_status = {}