diff --git a/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/post.js b/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/post.js
index 2251f1e91409850aa857922c4e247c12e54781dd..2b6dc397818e3008e148b492c9c66e9909f144d7 100644
--- a/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/post.js
+++ b/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/post.js
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ module.exports = models => async (req, res) => {
     updatedOn: Date.now(),
     recommendationType,
   }
-  if (recommendation && comments) {
-    newRecommendation.recommendation = recommendation
-    newRecommendation.comments = comments
-  }
+
+  newRecommendation.recommendation = recommendation || undefined
+  newRecommendation.comments = comments || undefined
+
   fragment.recommendations.push(newRecommendation)
   await fragment.save()
   return res.status(200).json(newRecommendation)