diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 4996d52..420b868 100755
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -188,6 +188,10 @@ def user_settings():
 
     return 'flipped. find more is ' + display
 
+def no_existing_edit(item_id, depicts_id):
+    q = Edit.query.filter(painting_id=item_id, depicts_id=depicts_id)
+    return q.count() == 0
+
 @app.route('/save/Q<int:item_id>', methods=['POST'])
 def save(item_id):
     depicts = request.form.getlist('depicts')
@@ -213,6 +217,10 @@ def save(item_id):
             database.session.add(depicts_item)
             database.session.commit()
 
+        assert no_existing_edit(item_id, depicts_id)
+
+    for depicts_qid in depicts:
+        depicts_id = int(depicts_qid[1:])
         r = create_claim(item_id, depicts_id, token)
         reply = r.json()
         if 'error' in reply: