diff --git a/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/process/SetGivenData.scala b/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/process/SetGivenData.scala
index b0c279e7..99348419 100644
--- a/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/process/SetGivenData.scala
+++ b/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/process/SetGivenData.scala
@@ -45,9 +45,10 @@ object SetGivenData {
     Task { ctx =>
       val itemId     = data.item.id
       val collective = ctx.args.meta.collective
+      val tags       = (ctx.args.meta.tags.getOrElse(Nil) ++ data.tags).distinct
       for {
-        _ <- ctx.logger.info(s"Set tags from given data: ${data.tags}")
-        e <- ops.linkTags(itemId, data.tags, collective).attempt
+        _ <- ctx.logger.info(s"Set tags from given data: ${tags}")
+        e <- ops.linkTags(itemId, tags, collective).attempt
         _ <- e.fold(
           ex => ctx.logger.warn(s"Error setting tags: ${ex.getMessage}"),
           _ => ().pure[F]