diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
index d21c9363d..a505170e1 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
@@ -482,10 +482,12 @@ class ImageField(ActivitypubFieldMixin, models.ImageField):
         image_slug = value
         # when it's an inline image (User avatar/icon, Book cover), it's a json
         # blob, but when it's an attached image, it's just a url
-        if hasattr(image_slug, "url"):
-            url = image_slug.url
-        elif isinstance(image_slug, str):
+        if isinstance(image_slug, str):
             url = image_slug
+        elif isinstance(image_slug, dict):
+            url = image_slug.get("url")
+        elif hasattr(image_slug, "url"):  # Serialized to Image/Document object?
+            url = image_slug.url
         else:
             return None