diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/submit/step/DescribeStep.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/submit/step/DescribeStep.java
index 93ab096b7b..86f7a9d4b4 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/submit/step/DescribeStep.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/submit/step/DescribeStep.java
@@ -553,8 +553,11 @@ public class DescribeStep extends AbstractProcessingStep
                 lasts.remove(valToRemove);
                 if(isAuthorityControlled)
                 {
-                   auths.remove(valToRemove);
-                   confs.remove(valToRemove);
+                    if(valToRemove < auths.size())
+                    {
+                        auths.remove(valToRemove);
+                        confs.remove(valToRemove);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }