diff --git a/marconi/tests/transport/wsgi/test_claims.py b/marconi/tests/transport/wsgi/test_claims.py
index e64e035c5..58c27e6c0 100644
--- a/marconi/tests/transport/wsgi/test_claims.py
+++ b/marconi/tests/transport/wsgi/test_claims.py
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ class ClaimsBaseTest(base.TestBase):
         self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, falcon.HTTP_404)
 
         # Update the claim
-        new_claim = '{"ttl": 60, "grace": 60}'
-        self.simulate_patch(claim_href, self.project_id, body=new_claim)
+        new_claim_ttl = '{"ttl": 60}'
+        self.simulate_patch(claim_href, self.project_id, body=new_claim_ttl)
         self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, falcon.HTTP_204)
 
         # Get the claimed messages (again)
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ class ClaimsFaultyDriverTests(base.TestBaseFaulty):
         self.simulate_get(claims_path + '/nichts', project_id)
         self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, falcon.HTTP_503)
 
-        self.simulate_patch(claims_path, project_id, body=doc)
-        self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, falcon.HTTP_405)
+        self.simulate_patch(claims_path + '/nichts', project_id, body=doc)
+        self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, falcon.HTTP_503)
 
         self.simulate_delete(claims_path + '/foo', project_id)
         self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, falcon.HTTP_503)
diff --git a/marconi/transport/wsgi/claims.py b/marconi/transport/wsgi/claims.py
index a769d7265..ad4917b34 100644
--- a/marconi/transport/wsgi/claims.py
+++ b/marconi/transport/wsgi/claims.py
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ from marconi.transport.wsgi import helpers as wsgi_helpers
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-CLAIM_METADATA_SPEC = (('ttl', int), ('grace', int))
+CLAIM_POST_SPEC = (('ttl', int), ('grace', int))
+CLAIM_PATCH_SPEC = (('ttl', int),)
 
 
 class CollectionResource(object):
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ class CollectionResource(object):
         # Read claim metadata (e.g., TTL) and raise appropriate
         # HTTP errors as needed.
         metadata, = wsgi_helpers.filter_stream(req.stream, req.content_length,
-                                               CLAIM_METADATA_SPEC)
+                                               CLAIM_POST_SPEC)
 
         # Claim some messages
         try:
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ class ItemResource(object):
         # Read claim metadata (e.g., TTL) and raise appropriate
         # HTTP errors as needed.
         metadata, = wsgi_helpers.filter_stream(req.stream, req.content_length,
-                                               CLAIM_METADATA_SPEC)
+                                               CLAIM_PATCH_SPEC)
 
         try:
             self.claim_controller.update(queue_name,