diff --git a/src/controllers/units.controller.js b/src/controllers/units.controller.js
index e3d056eb..718986a9 100644
--- a/src/controllers/units.controller.js
+++ b/src/controllers/units.controller.js
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ export const create = async (req, res) => {
       if (newRecord.issuance.id) {
         // if we are reusing a record, make sure it exists
         await assertRecordExistance(Issuance, newRecord.issuance.id);
+        newRecord.issuanceId = newRecord.issuance.id;
+        delete newRecord.issuance;
       } else {
         newRecord.issuance.id = uuidv4();
         newRecord.issuance.orgUid = orgUid;
diff --git a/src/utils/data-assertions.js b/src/utils/data-assertions.js
index 135e3e00..1b61f7ea 100644
--- a/src/utils/data-assertions.js
+++ b/src/utils/data-assertions.js
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ export const assertRecordExistance = async (Model, pk) => {
   if (!record) {
     throw new Error(`${Model.name} does not have a record for ${pk}`);
   }
+
+  return record;
 };
 
 export const assertHomeOrgExists = async () => {