diff --git a/src/Model/Item.php b/src/Model/Item.php
index 8867a2caa1..32da545d86 100644
--- a/src/Model/Item.php
+++ b/src/Model/Item.php
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class Item
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		if (!empty($fields['extid']) && empty($fields['external-id'])) {
+		if (isset($fields['extid'])) {
 			$fields['external-id'] = ItemURI::getIdByURI($fields['extid']);
 		}