diff --git a/api/resolvers/item.js b/api/resolvers/item.js
index 402af06a..c4e79ff6 100644
--- a/api/resolvers/item.js
+++ b/api/resolvers/item.js
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ export const updateItem = async (parent, { id, data: { title, url, text, boost,
     throw new UserInputError(`boost must be at least ${BOOST_MIN}`, { argumentName: 'boost' })
   }
 
-  if (!parentId && title.length > MAX_TITLE_LENGTH) {
+  if (!old.parentId && title.length > MAX_TITLE_LENGTH) {
     throw new UserInputError('title too long')
   }