diff --git a/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-00000000.whl b/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-00000000.whl
deleted file mode 100644
index 21754cd..0000000
Binary files a/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-00000000.whl and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-null.whl b/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-null.whl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b8b594
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-null.whl differ
diff --git a/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-variants.json b/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-variants.json
index ce4a247..27c17c2 100644
--- a/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-variants.json
+++ b/tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-variants.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
         }
     },
     "variants": {
-        "00000000": {},
+        "null": {},
         "5d8be4b9": {
             "installable_plugin": {
                 "feat1": [
diff --git a/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/dummy_project-1.0.0-variants.json b/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/dummy_project-1.0.0-variants.json
index 80b444d..11e8b99 100644
--- a/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/dummy_project-1.0.0-variants.json
+++ b/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/dummy_project-1.0.0-variants.json
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
                 ]
             }
         },
-        "00000000": {},
+        "null": {},
         "3f7188c1": {
             "fictional_hw": {
                 "architecture": [
diff --git a/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/sandbox_project-1.0.0-variants.json b/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/sandbox_project-1.0.0-variants.json
index 0d75743..ac39a46 100644
--- a/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/sandbox_project-1.0.0-variants.json
+++ b/tests/artifacts/variant_json_files/sandbox_project-1.0.0-variants.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         }
     },
     "variants": {
-        "00000000": {},
+        "null": {},
         "38ea48ce": {
             "fictional_hw": {
                 "architecture": [
@@ -69,4 +69,4 @@
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_analyze_wheel.py b/tests/commands/test_analyze_wheel.py
index 957cc1d..889e845 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_analyze_wheel.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_analyze_wheel.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from variantlib.commands.main import main
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import pytest
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ def test_analyze_wheel_null_variant(
             "analyze-wheel",
             "-i",
             "tests/artifacts/test-package/dist/test_package-0-py3-none-any-"
-            f"{NULL_VARIANT_HASH}.whl",
+            f"{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL}.whl",
         ]
     )
     assert (
         capsys.readouterr().out
         == f"""\
-############################## Variant: `{NULL_VARIANT_HASH}` \
+############################## Variant: `{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL}` \
 #############################
 ################################################################################
 """
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_generate_index_json.py b/tests/commands/test_generate_index_json.py
index 2398e5c..7ee0a83 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_generate_index_json.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_generate_index_json.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from variantlib.commands.main import main
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_DEFAULT_PRIO_KEY
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_NAMESPACE_KEY
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_PROVIDER_DATA_KEY
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def test_generate_index_json(
 ) -> None:
     filenames = [
         "test_package-0-py3-none-any.whl",
-        f"test_package-0-py3-none-any-{NULL_VARIANT_HASH}.whl",
+        f"test_package-0-py3-none-any-{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL}.whl",
         "test_package-0-py3-none-any-5d8be4b9.whl",
     ]
     artifact_dir = Path("tests/artifacts/test-package/dist")
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_generate_index_json(
             },
         },
         VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {
-            NULL_VARIANT_HASH: {},
+            NULL_VARIANT_LABEL: {},
             "5d8be4b9": {
                 "installable_plugin": {
                     "feat1": ["val1c"],
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_get_variant_hash.py b/tests/commands/test_get_variant_hash.py
index 052be07..12a2279 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_get_variant_hash.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_get_variant_hash.py
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import hashlib
 from itertools import chain
 
 import pytest
 
 from variantlib.commands.main import main
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_HASH_LEN
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("properties", "expected"),
     [
-        ([], NULL_VARIANT_HASH),
+        ([], hashlib.sha256(b"").hexdigest()[:VARIANT_HASH_LEN]),
         (["a::b::c"], "01a9783a"),
         (["d::e::f"], "41665eee"),
         (["a::b::c", "d::e::f"], "eb9a66a7"),
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_make_variant.py b/tests/commands/test_make_variant.py
index 52fa494..3253340 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_make_variant.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_make_variant.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from tests.utils import assert_zips_equal
 from variantlib.commands.main import main
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from pathlib import Path
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def mocked_plugin_reqs(
     ("label", "properties"),
     [
         # Null Variant
-        (NULL_VARIANT_HASH, None),
+        (NULL_VARIANT_LABEL, None),
         # Variant 1
         (
             "5d8be4b9",
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def test_make_variant(
             itertools.chain.from_iterable(["-p", vprop] for vprop in properties)
         )
 
-    if len(label) != 8:
+    if len(label) != 8 and label != "null":
         cmd_args.append(f"--variant-label={label}")
 
     main([*cmd_args])
@@ -112,9 +112,13 @@ def test_make_variant(
             ["--property=x::y::z", "--variant-label=123456789"],
             "error: invalid variant label",
         ),
+        (
+            ["--property=x::y::z", "--variant-label=null"],
+            "error: invalid variant label",
+        ),
         (
             ["--null-variant", "--variant-label=null"],
-            "error: --variant-label cannot be usedwith --null-variant",
+            "error: --variant-label cannot be used with --null-variant",
         ),
     ],
 )
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_unmake_variant.py b/tests/commands/test_unmake_variant.py
index bae47b7..87442c1 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_unmake_variant.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_unmake_variant.py
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
 
 from tests.utils import assert_zips_equal
 from variantlib.commands.main import main
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "filename",
     [
-        f"test_package-0-py3-none-any-{NULL_VARIANT_HASH}.whl",
+        f"test_package-0-py3-none-any-{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL}.whl",
         "test_package-0-py3-none-any-5d8be4b9.whl",
         "test_package-0-py3-none-any-60567bd9.whl",
         "test_package-0-py3-none-any-fbe82642.whl",
diff --git a/tests/models/test_variant.py b/tests/models/test_variant.py
index 029d6f6..75ddb55 100644
--- a/tests/models/test_variant.py
+++ b/tests/models/test_variant.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 from hypothesis import given
 from hypothesis import strategies as st
 
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_FEATURE_NAME_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_NAMESPACE_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_VALUE_REGEX
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ def test_variantprop_sorting() -> None:
 def test_null_variant() -> None:
     vdesc = VariantDescription()
     assert vdesc.properties == []
-    assert vdesc.hexdigest == NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+    assert vdesc.hexdigest == hashlib.sha256(b"").hexdigest()[:VARIANT_HASH_LEN]
 
 
 def test_variantdescription_initialization() -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 844cfb3..be6a309 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import re
 import string
 from collections.abc import Generator
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -24,10 +25,11 @@
 from variantlib.api import VariantValidationResult
 from variantlib.api import check_variant_supported
 from variantlib.api import get_variant_environment_dict
+from variantlib.api import get_variant_label
 from variantlib.api import get_variants_by_priority
 from variantlib.api import make_variant_dist_info
 from variantlib.api import validate_variant
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 from variantlib.constants import PYPROJECT_TOML_TOP_KEY
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_FEATURE_NAME_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_NAMESPACE_REGEX
@@ -130,10 +132,10 @@ def test_get_variants_by_priority_roundtrip(
         },
         VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {
             f"foo{vdesc.hexdigest[:4]}"
-            if custom_labels and vdesc.hexdigest != NULL_VARIANT_HASH
-            else vdesc.hexdigest: vdesc.to_dict()
+            if custom_labels and not vdesc.is_null_variant()
+            else get_variant_label(vdesc): vdesc.to_dict()
             for vdesc in combinations
-            if explicit_null or vdesc.hexdigest != NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+            if explicit_null or not vdesc.is_null_variant()
         },
     }
 
@@ -146,8 +148,8 @@ def test_get_variants_by_priority_roundtrip(
 
     assert get_variants_by_priority(variants_json=typed_variants_json) == [
         f"foo{vdesc.hexdigest[:4]}"
-        if custom_labels and vdesc.hexdigest != NULL_VARIANT_HASH
-        else vdesc.hexdigest
+        if custom_labels and not vdesc.is_null_variant()
+        else get_variant_label(vdesc)
         for vdesc in combinations
     ]
 
@@ -220,7 +222,7 @@ def get_or_skip_combinations() -> Generator[VariantDescription]:
 
     variants_json = {
         VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {
-            vdesc.hexdigest: vdesc.to_dict() for vdesc in combinations
+            get_variant_label(vdesc): vdesc.to_dict() for vdesc in combinations
         }
     }
 
@@ -234,7 +236,7 @@ def get_or_skip_combinations() -> Generator[VariantDescription]:
     ).return_value = {provider_cfg.namespace: provider_cfg for provider_cfg in configs}
 
     assert get_variants_by_priority(variants_json=typed_variants_json) == [
-        vdesc.hexdigest for vdesc in combinations
+        get_variant_label(vdesc) for vdesc in combinations
     ]
 
 
@@ -550,24 +552,114 @@ def test_get_variant_environment_dict() -> None:
 
 def test_make_variant_dist_info_invalid_label():
     with pytest.raises(
-        ValidationError, match=r"Variant label cannot be specified for the null variant"
+        ValidationError,
+        match=rf"Null variant must always use {NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label",
     ):
         make_variant_dist_info(VariantDescription([]), variant_label="foo")
     with pytest.raises(
         ValidationError,
-        match=rf"{NULL_VARIANT_HASH} label can be used only for the null variant",
+        match=rf"{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label can be used only for the null variant",
     ):
         make_variant_dist_info(
             VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]),
-            variant_label=NULL_VARIANT_HASH,
+            variant_label=NULL_VARIANT_LABEL,
         )
-    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match=r"Invalid variant label: foo/bar"):
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValidationError,
+        match=re.escape(
+            "Invalid variant label: 'foo/bar' (must be up to 8 alphanumeric characters)"
+        ),
+    ):
         make_variant_dist_info(
             VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]),
             variant_label="foo/bar",
         )
-    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match=r"Invalid variant label: 123456789"):
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValidationError,
+        match=re.escape(
+            "Invalid variant label: '123456789' (must be up to 8 alphanumeric "
+            "characters)"
+        ),
+    ):
         make_variant_dist_info(
             VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]),
             variant_label="123456789",
         )
+
+
+def test_get_variant_label() -> None:
+    assert get_variant_label(VariantDescription()) == NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
+    assert (
+        get_variant_label(VariantDescription(), NULL_VARIANT_LABEL)
+        == NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        get_variant_label(VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]))
+        == "01a9783a"
+    )
+    assert (
+        get_variant_label(
+            VariantDescription(
+                [VariantProperty("a", "b", "c"), VariantProperty("d", "e", "f")]
+            )
+        )
+        == "eb9a66a7"
+    )
+    assert (
+        get_variant_label(
+            VariantDescription(
+                [VariantProperty("d", "e", "f"), VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]
+            )
+        )
+        == "eb9a66a7"
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        get_variant_label(VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]), "foo")
+        == "foo"
+    )
+    assert (
+        get_variant_label(
+            VariantDescription(
+                [VariantProperty("a", "b", "c"), VariantProperty("d", "e", "f")]
+            ),
+            "foo",
+        )
+        == "foo"
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValidationError,
+        match=rf"Null variant must always use {NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label",
+    ):
+        get_variant_label(VariantDescription([]), "foo")
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValidationError,
+        match=rf"{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label can be used only for the null variant",
+    ):
+        get_variant_label(
+            VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]),
+            NULL_VARIANT_LABEL,
+        )
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValidationError,
+        match=re.escape(
+            "Invalid variant label: 'foo/bar' (must be up to 8 alphanumeric characters)"
+        ),
+    ):
+        get_variant_label(
+            VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]),
+            "foo/bar",
+        )
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValidationError,
+        match=re.escape(
+            "Invalid variant label: '123456789' (must be up to 8 alphanumeric "
+            "characters)"
+        ),
+    ):
+        get_variant_label(
+            VariantDescription([VariantProperty("a", "b", "c")]),
+            "123456789",
+        )
diff --git a/tests/test_variants_json.py b/tests/test_variants_json.py
index 20e318e..7e7e5f8 100644
--- a/tests/test_variants_json.py
+++ b/tests/test_variants_json.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_DEFAULT_PRIO_KEY
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_FEATURE_KEY
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_NAMESPACE_KEY
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def test_validate_variants_json() -> None:
 
     variants_json = VariantsJson(data)
     assert variants_json.variants == {
-        NULL_VARIANT_HASH: VariantDescription(),
+        NULL_VARIANT_LABEL: VariantDescription(),
         "03e04d5e": VariantDescription(
             properties=[
                 VariantProperty(
@@ -503,12 +503,12 @@ def test_merge_variants() -> None:
 def test_null_variant_label():
     with pytest.raises(
         ValidationError,
-        match=rf"{NULL_VARIANT_HASH} label can only be used for the null variant",
+        match=rf"{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label can only be used for the null variant",
     ):
         VariantsJson(
-            {VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {NULL_VARIANT_HASH: {"x": {"y": ["z"]}}}}
+            {VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {NULL_VARIANT_LABEL: {"x": {"y": ["z"]}}}}
         )
     with pytest.raises(
-        ValidationError, match=rf"Null variant must use {NULL_VARIANT_HASH} label"
+        ValidationError, match=rf"Null variant must use {NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label"
     ):
-        VariantsJson({VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {"null": {}}})
+        VariantsJson({VARIANTS_JSON_VARIANT_DATA_KEY: {"zuul": {}}})
diff --git a/variantlib/api.py b/variantlib/api.py
index 3f3da13..a1808a9 100644
--- a/variantlib/api.py
+++ b/variantlib/api.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from variantlib.configuration import VariantConfiguration
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_VARIANT_LABEL_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_HASH_LEN
 from variantlib.constants import VariantsJsonDict
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     "VariantProperty",
     "VariantValidationResult",
     "get_variant_environment_dict",
+    "get_variant_label",
     "get_variants_by_priority",
     "make_variant_dist_info",
     "validate_variant",
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ def get_variants_by_priority(
         vdesc.hexdigest: label for label, vdesc in variants_json.variants.items()
     }
     # handle the implicit null variant
-    label_map.setdefault(NULL_VARIANT_HASH, NULL_VARIANT_HASH)
+    label_map.setdefault(VariantDescription([]).hexdigest, NULL_VARIANT_LABEL)
 
     return [
         label_map[vdesc.hexdigest]
@@ -148,19 +149,7 @@ def make_variant_dist_info(
         variant_info = VariantInfo()
     variant_json = VariantDistInfo(variant_info)
     variant_json.variant_desc = vdesc
-    if variant_label is not None:
-        if vdesc.is_null_variant():
-            if variant_label != NULL_VARIANT_HASH:
-                raise ValidationError(
-                    "Variant label cannot be specified for the null variant"
-                )
-        elif variant_label == NULL_VARIANT_HASH:
-            raise ValidationError(
-                f"{NULL_VARIANT_HASH} label can be used only for the null variant"
-            )
-        elif not VALIDATION_VARIANT_LABEL_REGEX.fullmatch(variant_label):
-            raise ValidationError(f"Invalid variant label: {variant_label}")
-        variant_json.variant_label = variant_label
+    variant_json.variant_label = get_variant_label(vdesc, variant_label)
 
     return variant_json.to_str()
 
@@ -233,3 +222,39 @@ def get_variant_environment_dict(
         },
         "variant_properties": {vprop.to_str() for vprop in variant_desc.properties},
     }
+
+
+def get_variant_label(
+    variant_desc: VariantDescription,
+    custom_label: str | None = None,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Get the label for the specified variant
+
+    Get the label corresponding to `variant_desc`. If `custom_label`
+    is provided, validate it and use it. If `custom_label` is invalid,
+    raises a `ValidationError`.
+    """
+
+    if custom_label is None:
+        return (
+            NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
+            if variant_desc.is_null_variant()
+            else variant_desc.hexdigest
+        )
+
+    if variant_desc.is_null_variant():
+        if custom_label != NULL_VARIANT_LABEL:
+            raise ValidationError(
+                f"Null variant must always use {NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label"
+            )
+    elif custom_label == NULL_VARIANT_LABEL:
+        raise ValidationError(
+            f"{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label can be used only for the null variant"
+        )
+    elif not VALIDATION_VARIANT_LABEL_REGEX.fullmatch(custom_label):
+        raise ValidationError(
+            f"Invalid variant label: {custom_label!r} "
+            "(must be up to 8 alphanumeric characters)"
+        )
+    return custom_label
diff --git a/variantlib/commands/analyze_wheel.py b/variantlib/commands/analyze_wheel.py
index 991d48f..c00065c 100644
--- a/variantlib/commands/analyze_wheel.py
+++ b/variantlib/commands/analyze_wheel.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from variantlib import __package_name__
+from variantlib.api import get_variant_label
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_WHEEL_NAME_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_DIST_INFO_FILENAME
 from variantlib.variant_dist_info import VariantDistInfo
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@
 
 
 def pretty_print(vdesc: VariantDescription) -> str:
-    result_str = f"{'#' * 30} Variant: `{vdesc.hexdigest}` {'#' * 29}"
+    result_str = f"{'#' * 30} Variant: `{get_variant_label(vdesc)}` {'#' * 29}"
     for vprop in vdesc.properties:
         result_str += f"\n{vprop.to_str()}"
     result_str += f"\n{'#' * 80}\n"
diff --git a/variantlib/commands/make_variant.py b/variantlib/commands/make_variant.py
index a9c98e1..afb36fa 100644
--- a/variantlib/commands/make_variant.py
+++ b/variantlib/commands/make_variant.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 from variantlib import __package_name__
 from variantlib.api import VariantDescription
 from variantlib.api import VariantProperty
+from variantlib.api import get_variant_label
 from variantlib.api import make_variant_dist_info
 from variantlib.api import validate_variant
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_VARIANT_LABEL_REGEX
@@ -108,7 +109,11 @@ def make_variant(args: list[str]) -> None:
 
     if parsed_args.variant_label is not None:
         if parsed_args.null_variant:
-            parser.error("--variant-label cannot be usedwith --null-variant")
+            parser.error("--variant-label cannot be used with --null-variant")
+        if parsed_args.variant_label == "null":
+            parser.error(
+                "invalid variant label: 'none' is reserved for the --null-variant"
+            )
         if not VALIDATION_VARIANT_LABEL_REGEX.fullmatch(parsed_args.variant_label):
             parser.error(
                 "invalid variant label (must be up to 8 alphanumeric characters): "
@@ -229,8 +234,7 @@ def _make_variant(
         # Create a null variant
         vdesc = VariantDescription()
 
-    if variant_label is None:
-        variant_label = vdesc.hexdigest
+    variant_label = get_variant_label(vdesc, variant_label)
 
     # Determine output wheel filename
     output_filepath = (
diff --git a/variantlib/constants.py b/variantlib/constants.py
index eb17ff6..dfe14cb 100644
--- a/variantlib/constants.py
+++ b/variantlib/constants.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from typing import TypedDict
 
 VARIANT_HASH_LEN = 8
-NULL_VARIANT_HASH = "0" * VARIANT_HASH_LEN
+NULL_VARIANT_LABEL = "null"
 CONFIG_FILENAME = "variants.toml"
 VARIANT_DIST_INFO_FILENAME = "variant.json"
 
diff --git a/variantlib/models/variant.py b/variantlib/models/variant.py
index 028dddb..d1a0f2f 100644
--- a/variantlib/models/variant.py
+++ b/variantlib/models/variant.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 from dataclasses import field
 from functools import cached_property
 
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_FEATURE_NAME_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_FEATURE_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_NAMESPACE_REGEX
@@ -193,10 +192,6 @@ def hexdigest(self) -> str:
         """
         Compute the hash of the object.
         """
-        if self.is_null_variant():
-            # The `null-variant` is a special case where no properties are defined.
-            return NULL_VARIANT_HASH
-
         hash_object = hashlib.sha256()
         # Append a newline to every serialized property to ensure that they
         # are separated from one another. Otherwise, two "adjacent" variants
diff --git a/variantlib/variants_json.py b/variantlib/variants_json.py
index f4eb2ae..1ee37c8 100644
--- a/variantlib/variants_json.py
+++ b/variantlib/variants_json.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 from typing import Any
 
-from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+from variantlib.constants import NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
 from variantlib.constants import VALIDATION_VARIANT_LABEL_REGEX
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_DEFAULT_PRIO_KEY
 from variantlib.constants import VARIANT_INFO_FEATURE_KEY
@@ -153,16 +153,16 @@ def _process(self, variant_table: VariantsJsonDict) -> None:
                     ignore_subkeys=True,
                 ) as packed_vdesc:
                     vdesc = VariantDescription.from_dict(packed_vdesc)
-                    if vdesc.is_null_variant() and variant_label != NULL_VARIANT_HASH:
+                    if vdesc.is_null_variant() and variant_label != NULL_VARIANT_LABEL:
                         raise ValidationError(
-                            f"Null variant must use {NULL_VARIANT_HASH} label"
+                            f"Null variant must use {NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label"
                         )
                     if (
                         not vdesc.is_null_variant()
-                        and variant_label == NULL_VARIANT_HASH
+                        and variant_label == NULL_VARIANT_LABEL
                     ):
                         raise ValidationError(
-                            f"{NULL_VARIANT_HASH} label can only be used for "
+                            f"{NULL_VARIANT_LABEL!r} label can only be used for "
                             "the null variant"
                         )
                     self.variants[variant_label] = vdesc