diff --git a/bookwyrm/management/commands/merge_works.py b/bookwyrm/management/commands/merge_works.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..619d0509a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/management/commands/merge_works.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+""" PROCEED WITH CAUTION: uses deduplication fields to permanently
+merge work data objects """
+from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm.management.merge_command import MergeCommand
+
+
+class Command(MergeCommand):
+    """merges two works by ID"""
+
+    help = "merges specified works into one"
+
+    MODEL = models.Work