diff --git a/crc/api/workflow.py b/crc/api/workflow.py
index c8fd95ab..b2e0bd4a 100644
--- a/crc/api/workflow.py
+++ b/crc/api/workflow.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import uuid
 
-from crc.api.common import ApiError, ApiErrorSchema
 from crc import session
+from crc.api.common import ApiError, ApiErrorSchema
 from crc.models.workflow import WorkflowModel, WorkflowModelSchema, WorkflowSpecModelSchema, WorkflowSpecModel, \
     Task, TaskSchema
 from crc.workflow_processor import WorkflowProcessor
@@ -20,26 +20,20 @@ def add_workflow_specification(body):
 
 
 def update_workflow_specification(spec_id, body):
-
     if spec_id is None:
         error = ApiError('unknown_study', 'Please provide a valid Workflow Specification ID.')
         return ApiErrorSchema.dump(error), 404
 
-    db_spec = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).filter_by(id=spec_id).first()
-    """:type: WorkflowSpecModel"""
+    spec: WorkflowSpecModel = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).filter_by(id=spec_id).first()
 
-    if db_spec is None:
+    if spec is None:
         error = ApiError('unknown_study', 'The Workflow Specification "' + spec_id + '" is not recognized.')
         return ApiErrorSchema.dump(error), 404
 
-    new_spec = WorkflowSpecModelSchema().load(body, session=session)
-    """:type: WorkflowSpecModel"""
-
-    db_spec.id = new_spec.id
-    db_spec.display_name = new_spec.display_name
-    db_spec.description = new_spec.description
+    spec = WorkflowSpecModelSchema().load(body, session=session)
+    session.add(spec)
     session.commit()
-    return WorkflowSpecModelSchema().dump(db_spec)
+    return WorkflowSpecModelSchema().dump(spec)
 
 
 def get_workflow(workflow_id):
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 2acd5a70..77390ec2 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class TestStudy(BaseTest, unittest.TestCase):
     def test_modify_workflow_specification(self):
         self.load_example_data()
         old_id = 'random_fact'
-        spec = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).filter_by(id=old_id).first()
+        spec: WorkflowSpecModel = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).filter_by(id=old_id).first()
         """:type: WorkflowSpecModel"""
 
         spec.id = 'odd_datum'
@@ -114,6 +114,10 @@ class TestStudy(BaseTest, unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_success(rv)
         db_spec = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).filter_by(id=spec.id).first()
         self.assertEqual(spec.display_name, db_spec.display_name)
+
+        num_old_after = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).filter_by(id=old_id).count()
+        self.assertEqual(num_old_after, 0)
+
         num_after = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).count()
         self.assertEqual(num_after, num_before)