diff --git a/docs/client/repository.go b/docs/client/repository.go
index 1f777adda..5da2239f1 100644
--- a/docs/client/repository.go
+++ b/docs/client/repository.go
@@ -427,9 +427,10 @@ func (o withTagOption) Apply(m distribution.ManifestService) error {
 }
 
 // Put puts a manifest.  A tag can be specified using an options parameter which uses some shared state to hold the
-// tag name in order to build the correct upload URL.  This state is written and read under a lock.
+// tag name in order to build the correct upload URL.
 func (ms *manifests) Put(ctx context.Context, m distribution.Manifest, options ...distribution.ManifestServiceOption) (digest.Digest, error) {
 	ref := ms.name
+	var tagged bool
 
 	for _, option := range options {
 		if opt, ok := option.(withTagOption); ok {
@@ -438,6 +439,7 @@ func (ms *manifests) Put(ctx context.Context, m distribution.Manifest, options .
 			if err != nil {
 				return "", err
 			}
+			tagged = true
 		} else {
 			err := option.Apply(ms)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -445,13 +447,24 @@ func (ms *manifests) Put(ctx context.Context, m distribution.Manifest, options .
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
-	manifestURL, err := ms.ub.BuildManifestURL(ref)
+	mediaType, p, err := m.Payload()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	mediaType, p, err := m.Payload()
+	if !tagged {
+		// generate a canonical digest and Put by digest
+		_, d, err := distribution.UnmarshalManifest(mediaType, p)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		ref, err = reference.WithDigest(ref, d.Digest)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	manifestURL, err := ms.ub.BuildManifestURL(ref)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
diff --git a/docs/client/repository_test.go b/docs/client/repository_test.go
index b7b782c70..df26b6313 100644
--- a/docs/client/repository_test.go
+++ b/docs/client/repository_test.go
@@ -815,6 +815,7 @@ func TestManifestPut(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+
 	var m testutil.RequestResponseMap
 	m = append(m, testutil.RequestResponseMapping{
 		Request: testutil.Request{
@@ -831,6 +832,22 @@ func TestManifestPut(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	})
 
+	putDgst := digest.FromBytes(m1.Canonical)
+	m = append(m, testutil.RequestResponseMapping{
+		Request: testutil.Request{
+			Method: "PUT",
+			Route:  "/v2/" + repo.Name() + "/manifests/" + putDgst.String(),
+			Body:   payload,
+		},
+		Response: testutil.Response{
+			StatusCode: http.StatusAccepted,
+			Headers: http.Header(map[string][]string{
+				"Content-Length":        {"0"},
+				"Docker-Content-Digest": {putDgst.String()},
+			}),
+		},
+	})
+
 	e, c := testServer(m)
 	defer c()
 
@@ -848,6 +865,10 @@ func TestManifestPut(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	if _, err := ms.Put(ctx, m1); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// TODO(dmcgowan): Check for invalid input error
 }