diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/handle/HandleServiceImpl.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/handle/HandleServiceImpl.java
index 5eb247c794..c03a8ef42f 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/handle/HandleServiceImpl.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/handle/HandleServiceImpl.java
@@ -231,7 +231,10 @@ public class HandleServiceImpl implements HandleService
                 // can verify during a restore whether the same *type* of resource
                 // is reusing this handle!
                 handle.setDSpaceObject(null);
+
+                //Also remove the handle from the DSO list to keep a consistent model
                 dso.getHandles().remove(handle);
+                
                 handleDAO.save(context, handle);
 
                 if(log.isDebugEnabled())
diff --git a/dspace-api/src/test/java/org/dspace/content/VersioningTest.java b/dspace-api/src/test/java/org/dspace/content/VersioningTest.java
index f1bfe1c8b4..6b495dae8e 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/test/java/org/dspace/content/VersioningTest.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/test/java/org/dspace/content/VersioningTest.java
@@ -166,9 +166,10 @@ public class VersioningTest extends AbstractUnitTest {
     @Test
     public void testVersionDelete() throws Exception {
         context.turnOffAuthorisationSystem();
+        String handle = versionedItem.getHandle();
         versionService.removeVersion(context, versionedItem);
         assertThat("Test_version_delete", itemService.find(context, versionedItem.getID()), nullValue());
-        assertThat("Test_version_handle_delete", handleService.resolveToObject(context, versionedItem.getHandle()), nullValue());
+        assertThat("Test_version_handle_delete", handleService.resolveToObject(context, handle), nullValue());
         context.restoreAuthSystemState();
     }
 }