diff --git a/app/models/learning_object.rb b/app/models/learning_object.rb
index 2a4b12d7e532f7ffdffc3dfeedbfcb65b5d1ed8f..6f8678bfd02b61282f35c12517855a286c39bc22 100644
--- a/app/models/learning_object.rb
+++ b/app/models/learning_object.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class LearningObject < ApplicationRecord
   belongs_to :attachment, class_name: 'LearningObject::Attachment'
 
   validates_presence_of :name, :publisher, :object_type, :language, :author, unless: :draft?
-  validates :id_dspace, presence: true, uniqueness: true
+  validates :id_dspace, presence: true, uniqueness: true, unless: :published?
 
   default_scope { includes(:object_type, :attachment, :attachments) }
   scope :missing_thumbnail, ->() { where(thumbnail_file_name: nil) }