diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index e56a5e119e..4625345faf 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 1.15.2 (unreleased)
 ===================
 
+ami_average
+-----------
+
+- Fix error in step spec that prevents step creation. [#8677]
+
 assign_wcs
 ----------
 
diff --git a/jwst/ami/ami_average_step.py b/jwst/ami/ami_average_step.py
index 231c9453a3..60fc003ac8 100755
--- a/jwst/ami/ami_average_step.py
+++ b/jwst/ami/ami_average_step.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class AmiAverageStep(Step):
     class_alias = "ami_average"
 
     spec = """
-    skip = True # Do not run this step
+    skip = boolean(default=True) # Do not run this step
     """
 
     def flatten_input(self, input_items):
diff --git a/jwst/ami/tests/test_ami_average.py b/jwst/ami/tests/test_ami_average.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5fc9eb47d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jwst/ami/tests/test_ami_average.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from jwst.ami.ami_average_step import AmiAverageStep
+
+
+def test_step_init():
+    """
+    Just a simple smoke test to make sure the step
+    can be created with the default spec.
+    """
+    step = AmiAverageStep()
+    assert step