diff --git a/lib/cradle/database/documents.js b/lib/cradle/database/documents.js
index 3ac8f39..0d88e47 100644
--- a/lib/cradle/database/documents.js
+++ b/lib/cradle/database/documents.js
@@ -134,18 +134,9 @@ Database.prototype._save = function (id, rev, doc, callback) {
             } else {
                 // Attempt to create a new document. If it fails,
                 // because an existing document with that _id exists (409),
-                // perform a HEAD, to get the _rev, and try to re-save.
+                // don't try to do anything funny in the dark.
                 this.put(id, document, function (e, res) {
-                    if (e && e.headers && e.headers.status === 409) { // Conflict
-                        that.head(id, function (e, headers, res) {
-                            if (res === 404 || !headers['etag']) {
-                                return callback({ reason: 'not_found' });
-                            }
-
-                            document._rev = headers['etag'].slice(1, -1);
-                            that.put(id, document, callback);
-                        });
-                    } else { callback(e, res) }
+                  callback(e, res);
                 });
             }
         // POST a single document, without an id (Create)