diff --git a/app/models/relationship.rb b/app/models/relationship.rb
index f6b28a50e..0f0433f13 100644
--- a/app/models/relationship.rb
+++ b/app/models/relationship.rb
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def self.create_unless_exists(source_id, target_id, relationship_type, options =
     r.update_options(options) unless r.nil?
     return r unless r.nil?
     # otherwise we should get the existing relationship based on source, target and type
-    r = Relationship.where(source_id: source_id, target_id: target_id).where('relationship_type = ?', relationship_type.to_yaml).last
+    r = Relationship.where(source_id: source_id, target_id: target_id).last
     exception_message = nil
     exception_class = nil
     if r.nil?
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ def self.create_unless_exists(source_id, target_id, relationship_type, options =
         exception_class = e.class.name
       end
     else
+      if r.relationship_type != relationship_type && relationship_type == Relationship.confirmed_type
+        r.relationship_type = relationship_type
+        r.save!
+      end
       r.update_options(options)
     end
     if r.nil?
diff --git a/test/models/relationship_test.rb b/test/models/relationship_test.rb
index 9ff193312..ca4620054 100644
--- a/test/models/relationship_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/relationship_test.rb
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ def setup
     assert_no_difference 'Relationship.count' do
       r2 = Relationship.create_unless_exists(source.id, target.id, Relationship.confirmed_type)
     end
-    assert_nil Relationship.where(id: r.id).last
+    assert_equal r.id, r2.id
     assert_equal Relationship.confirmed_type, r2.relationship_type
     Relationship.any_instance.stubs(:save!).raises(ActiveRecord::RecordNotUnique)
     target = create_project_media team: t