diff --git a/atlas/api.py b/atlas/api.py
index c6057cbd..b3f799f8 100644
--- a/atlas/api.py
+++ b/atlas/api.py
@@ -124,10 +124,9 @@ def import_dicoms_helper(request, case_id: int | None = None):
         tags = data[series_uid][0][1]
 
         # Check if series with the id already exists (in which case we just add to htat)
-        try:
-            with transaction.atomic():
-                series = Series.objects.get(series_instance_uid=tags["SeriesInstanceUID"])
-        except Series.DoesNotExist:
+        if Series.objects.filter(series_instance_uid=tags["SeriesInstanceUID"]).exists():
+            series = Series.objects.get(series_instance_uid=tags["SeriesInstanceUID"])
+        else:
             series = Series(
                 modality=modality,
                 description=tags["SeriesDescription"],