diff --git a/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py b/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
index 657ede05e..05550429b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
@@ -181,40 +181,42 @@ def handle_imported_book(item):
                 item.book.title,
                 job.source,
             )
-            existing = models.Review.objects.filter(
+            review = models.Review.objects.filter(
                 user=user,
                 book=item.book,
                 name=review_title,
                 rating=item.rating,
                 published_date=published_date_guess,
             ).first()
-
-            review = existing or models.Review(
-                user=user,
-                book=item.book,
-                name=review_title,
-                content=item.review,
-                rating=item.rating,
-                published_date=published_date_guess,
-                privacy=job.privacy,
-            )
+            if not review:
+                review = models.Review(
+                    user=user,
+                    book=item.book,
+                    name=review_title,
+                    content=item.review,
+                    rating=item.rating,
+                    published_date=published_date_guess,
+                    privacy=job.privacy,
+                )
+                review.save(software="bookwyrm", priority=LOW)
         else:
             # just a rating
-            existing = models.ReviewRating.objects.filter(
+            review = models.ReviewRating.objects.filter(
                 user=user,
                 book=item.book,
                 published_date=published_date_guess,
                 rating=item.rating,
             ).first()
-            review = existing or models.ReviewRating(
-                user=user,
-                book=item.book,
-                rating=item.rating,
-                published_date=published_date_guess,
-                privacy=job.privacy,
-            )
+            if not review:
+                review = models.ReviewRating(
+                    user=user,
+                    book=item.book,
+                    rating=item.rating,
+                    published_date=published_date_guess,
+                    privacy=job.privacy,
+                )
+                review.save(software="bookwyrm", priority=LOW)
 
         # only broadcast this review to other bookwyrm instances
-        review.save(software="bookwyrm", priority=LOW)
         item.linked_review = review
-        item.save()
+    item.save()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py b/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py
index 99cdcd289..6996a92b5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py
@@ -256,6 +256,55 @@ class GenericImporter(TestCase):
         import_item.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertEqual(import_item.linked_review.id, review.id)
 
+    @patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.add_status_task.delay")
+    def test_handle_imported_book_rating_duplicate_with_link(self, *_):
+        """rating import twice"""
+        import_job = self.importer.create_job(
+            self.local_user, self.csv, True, "unlisted"
+        )
+        import_item = import_job.items.filter(index=1).first()
+        import_item.book = self.book
+        import_item.save()
+
+        with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.apply_async"):
+            handle_imported_book(import_item)
+            handle_imported_book(import_item)
+
+        review = models.ReviewRating.objects.get(book=self.book, user=self.local_user)
+        self.assertIsInstance(review, models.ReviewRating)
+        self.assertEqual(review.rating, 3.0)
+        self.assertEqual(review.privacy, "unlisted")
+
+        import_item.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(import_item.linked_review.id, review.id)
+
+    @patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.add_status_task.delay")
+    def test_handle_imported_book_rating_duplicate_without_link(self, *_):
+        """rating import twice"""
+        import_job = self.importer.create_job(
+            self.local_user, self.csv, True, "unlisted"
+        )
+        import_item = import_job.items.filter(index=1).first()
+        import_item.book = self.book
+        import_item.save()
+
+        with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.apply_async"):
+            handle_imported_book(import_item)
+        import_item.refresh_from_db()
+        import_item.linked_review = None
+        import_item.save()
+
+        with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.apply_async"):
+            handle_imported_book(import_item)
+
+        review = models.ReviewRating.objects.get(book=self.book, user=self.local_user)
+        self.assertIsInstance(review, models.ReviewRating)
+        self.assertEqual(review.rating, 3.0)
+        self.assertEqual(review.privacy, "unlisted")
+
+        import_item.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(import_item.linked_review.id, review.id)
+
     def test_handle_imported_book_reviews_disabled(self, *_):
         """review import"""
         import_job = self.importer.create_job(