diff --git a/CHANGES/+retain_repo_versions.bugfix b/CHANGES/+retain_repo_versions.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa54fdb8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/+retain_repo_versions.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed empty string not being accepted as the value of `--retain-repo-versions`.
diff --git a/src/pulp_cli/generic.py b/src/pulp_cli/generic.py
index 0374af0c0..402e7155d 100644
--- a/src/pulp_cli/generic.py
+++ b/src/pulp_cli/generic.py
@@ -1368,7 +1368,7 @@ def _type_callback(ctx: click.Context, param: click.Parameter, value: str | None
     "--retain-repo-versions",
     needs_plugins=[PluginRequirement("core", specifier=">=3.13.0")],
     help=_("Number of repository versions to keep."),
-    type=int,
+    type=int_or_empty,
 )
 
 pulp_labels_option = pulp_option(