diff --git a/oml/item/models.py b/oml/item/models.py
index 704d603..f894cfc 100644
--- a/oml/item/models.py
+++ b/oml/item/models.py
@@ -785,7 +785,6 @@ class File(db.Model):
         while utils.iexists(os.path.join(prefix, new_path)):
             h = self.sha1[:len(h)+1]
             filename = '%s.%s.%s' % (title, h, extension)
-            first = unicodedata.normalize('NFD', author[0].upper())[0].upper()
             new_path = os.path.join(first, author, filename)
             if current_path == os.path.join(prefix, new_path):
                 break