diff --git a/app/models/metadata_has_one.rb b/app/models/metadata_has_one.rb
index ae5c6617..d1705e7d 100644
--- a/app/models/metadata_has_one.rb
+++ b/app/models/metadata_has_one.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class MetadataHasOne < MetadataBelongsTo
     return true unless changed?
     return true unless inverse?
 
-    had_one&[inverse]&.value = ''
-    has_one&[inverse]&.value = post.uuid.value
+    had_one[inverse]&.value = '' if had_one
+    has_one[inverse]&.value = post.uuid.value if has_one
 
     true
   end