diff --git a/kmip/pie/client.py b/kmip/pie/client.py
index 6f85a62..75d725e 100644
--- a/kmip/pie/client.py
+++ b/kmip/pie/client.py
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ class ProxyKmipClient(api.KmipClient):
             message = result.result_message.value
             raise exceptions.KmipOperationFailure(status, reason, message)
 
-    def activate(self, uid):
+    def activate(self, uid=None):
         """
         Activate a managed object stored by a KMIP appliance.
 
@@ -522,8 +522,9 @@ class ProxyKmipClient(api.KmipClient):
             TypeError: if the input argument is invalid
         """
         # Check input
-        if not isinstance(uid, six.string_types):
-            raise TypeError("uid must be a string")
+        if uid is not None:
+            if not isinstance(uid, six.string_types):
+                raise TypeError("uid must be a string")
 
         # Verify that operations can be given at this time
         if not self._is_open: