diff --git a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
index 8dfdd42f..31d5d1cc 100644
--- a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
+++ b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
@@ -1052,8 +1052,8 @@ export async function editSubmissionItem(
   const originalData = currentItem.original_data || currentItem.item_data;
 
   // Determine original action type - preserve submission intent
-  const originalAction = currentItem.action_type || 
-    (currentItem.original_data && Object.keys(currentItem.original_data).length > 0) ? 'edit' : 'create';
+  const originalAction: 'create' | 'edit' | 'delete' = (currentItem.action_type as 'create' | 'edit' | 'delete') || 
+    ((currentItem.original_data && Object.keys(currentItem.original_data).length > 0) ? 'edit' : 'create');
 
   if (isModerator) {
     // Moderators can edit directly