diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
index 3139e2de8..d1ca3747a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
@@ -126,18 +126,6 @@ class ActivitypubMixin:
         # there OUGHT to be only one match
         return match.first()
 
-    def get_dedpulication_field_json(self):
-        """A json blob of deduplication fields (like remote_id, or ISBN)"""
-        data = {}
-        for field in self._meta.get_fields():
-            if (
-                not hasattr(field, "deduplication_field")
-                or not field.deduplication_field
-            ):
-                continue
-            data[field.name] = getattr(self, field.name)
-        return data
-
     def broadcast(self, activity, sender, software=None, queue=BROADCAST):
         """send out an activity"""
         broadcast_task.apply_async(
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/book.py b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
index 6c40061b9..6a779b0f6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from itertools import chain
 import re
 
-from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.postgres.search import SearchVectorField
 from django.contrib.postgres.indexes import GinIndex
 from django.core.cache import cache
@@ -381,22 +380,16 @@ class Edition(Book):
 
         return super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    @transaction.atomic
     def repair(self):
         """If an edition is in a bad state (missing a work), let's fix that"""
         # made sure it actually NEEDS reapir
         if self.parent_work:
             return
 
-        # try to find a duplicate of this edition first
-        model = apps.get_model("bookwyrm.Edition", require_ready=True)
-        data = self.get_dedpulication_field_json()
-        existing_match = model.find_existing(data)
-
         # assign this edition to the parent of the duplicate edition
-        if existing_match and existing_match.parent_work:
-            new_work = existing_match.parent_work
-        else:
-            new_work = Work.objects.create(title=self.title)
+        new_work = Work.objects.create(title=self.title)
+        new_work.authors.set(self.authors.all())
 
         self.parent_work = new_work
         self.save(update_fields=["parent_work"], broadcast=False)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
index a615a76af..6dd83b764 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ class Book(TestCase):
             title="Example Work", remote_id="https://example.com/book/1"
         )
         self.first_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
-            title="Example Edition",
-            parent_work=self.work,
+            title="Example Edition", parent_work=self.work, isbn_10="1111111111"
         )
         self.second_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Another Example Edition",
@@ -147,9 +146,11 @@ class Book(TestCase):
     def test_repair_edition(self):
         """Fix editions with no works"""
         edition = models.Edition.objects.create(title="test")
+        edition.authors.set([models.Author.objects.create(name="Author Name")])
         self.assertIsNone(edition.parent_work)
 
         edition.repair()
         edition.refresh_from_db()
 
         self.assertEqual(edition.parent_work.title, "test")
+        self.assertEqual(edition.parent_work.authors.count(), 1)