diff --git a/oml/item/models.py b/oml/item/models.py
index 012479d..fe4dc31 100644
--- a/oml/item/models.py
+++ b/oml/item/models.py
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ class File(db.Model):
             author = 'Unknown Author'
         if ' (Ed.)' in author:
             author = author.replace(' (Ed.)', '') + ' (Ed.)'
-        if author > 255:
+        if len(author) > 255:
             author = 'Various Authors'
         title = j.get('title', 'Untitled')
         extension = j['extension']