diff --git a/integrations/client/test_delphi_epidata.py b/integrations/client/test_delphi_epidata.py
index 0c8c3e35d..f5ce462f2 100644
--- a/integrations/client/test_delphi_epidata.py
+++ b/integrations/client/test_delphi_epidata.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def test_geo_value(self):
     # insert placeholder data: three counties, three MSAs
     N = 3
     rows = [
-      CovidcastTestRow.make_default_row(geo_type="fips", geo_value=FIPS[i], value=i)
+      CovidcastTestRow.make_default_row(geo_type="county", geo_value=FIPS[i], value=i)
       for i in range(N)
     ] + [
       CovidcastTestRow.make_default_row(geo_type="msa", geo_value=MSA[i], value=i*10)
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def fetch(geo):
     self.assertEqual(request['epidata'], [counties[0]])
     # test fetch a specific yet not existing region
     request = fetch('55555')
-    self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'Invalid geo_value(s) 55555 for the requested geo_type fips')
+    self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'Invalid geo_value(s) 55555 for the requested geo_type county')
     # test fetch a multiple regions
     request = fetch([FIPS[0], FIPS[1]])
     self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'success')
@@ -256,10 +256,10 @@ def fetch(geo):
     self.assertEqual(request['epidata'], [counties[0], counties[2]])
     # test fetch a multiple regions but one is not existing
     request = fetch([FIPS[0], '55555'])
-    self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'Invalid geo_value(s) 55555 for the requested geo_type fips')
+    self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'Invalid geo_value(s) 55555 for the requested geo_type county')
     # test fetch a multiple regions but specify no region
     request = fetch([])
-    self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'geo_value is empty for the requested geo_type fips!')
+    self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'geo_value is empty for the requested geo_type county!')
     # test fetch a region with no results
     request = fetch([FIPS[3]])
     self.assertEqual(request['message'], 'no results')
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ def test_async_epidata(self):
     # insert placeholder data: three counties, three MSAs
     N = 3
     rows = [
-      CovidcastTestRow.make_default_row(geo_type="fips", geo_value=FIPS[i-1], value=i)
+      CovidcastTestRow.make_default_row(geo_type="county", geo_value=FIPS[i-1], value=i)
       for i in range(N)
     ] + [
       CovidcastTestRow.make_default_row(geo_type="msa", geo_value=MSA[i-1], value=i*10)
diff --git a/src/server/_params.py b/src/server/_params.py
index 41f5ce494..39c25ce1e 100644
--- a/src/server/_params.py
+++ b/src/server/_params.py
@@ -58,10 +58,21 @@ def __init__(self, geo_type: str, geo_values: Union[bool, Sequence[str]]):
         if not isinstance(geo_values, bool):
             if geo_values == ['']:
                 raise ValidationFailedException(f"geo_value is empty for the requested geo_type {geo_type}!")
-            allowed_values = delphi_utils.geomap.GeoMapper().get_geo_values(geo_type)
-            invalid_values = set(geo_values) - set(allowed_values)
-            if invalid_values:
-                raise ValidationFailedException(f"Invalid geo_value(s) {', '.join(invalid_values)} for the requested geo_type {geo_type}")
+            # TODO: keep this translator in sync with CsvImporter.GEOGRAPHIC_RESOLUTIONS in acquisition/covidcast/ and with GeoMapper
+            geo_type_translator = {
+                "county": "fips",
+                "state": "state_id",
+                "zip": "zip",
+                "hrr": "hrr",
+                "hhs": "hhs",
+                "msa": "msa",
+                "nation": "nation"
+            }
+            if geo_type in geo_type_translator: # else geo_type is unknown to GeoMapper
+                allowed_values = delphi_utils.geomap.GeoMapper().get_geo_values(geo_type_translator[geo_type])
+                invalid_values = set(geo_values) - set(allowed_values)
+                if invalid_values:
+                    raise ValidationFailedException(f"Invalid geo_value(s) {', '.join(invalid_values)} for the requested geo_type {geo_type}")
         self.geo_type = geo_type
         self.geo_values = geo_values
 
diff --git a/tests/server/test_params.py b/tests/server/test_params.py
index 1a401efe2..6d6de4fdc 100644
--- a/tests/server/test_params.py
+++ b/tests/server/test_params.py
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ def test_parse_geo_arg(self):
                 self.assertEqual(parse_geo_arg(), [GeoSet("fips", True)])
             with app.test_request_context(f"/?geo=fips:{FIPS[0]}"):
                 self.assertEqual(parse_geo_arg(), [GeoSet("fips", [FIPS[0]])])
+        with self.subTest("covidcast"):
+            for geo_type in "county dma hhs hrr msa nation state".split():
+                with app.test_request_context(f"/?geo={geo_type}:*"):
+                    self.assertEqual(parse_geo_arg(), [GeoSet(geo_type, True)])
         with self.subTest("single list"):
             with app.test_request_context(f"/?geo=fips:{FIPS[0]},{FIPS[1]}"):
                 self.assertEqual(parse_geo_arg(), [GeoSet("fips", [FIPS[0], FIPS[1]])])