diff --git a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OCustomFields.scala b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OCustomFields.scala
index 8f6179d0..bdec0212 100644
--- a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OCustomFields.scala
+++ b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OCustomFields.scala
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ object OCustomFields {
         val update =
           for {
             field <- OptionT(RCustomField.findByIdOrName(in.field, in.collective))
+            _     <- OptionT.liftF(logger.debug(s"Field found by '${in.field}': $field"))
             n     <- OptionT.liftF(RCustomFieldValue.deleteValue(field.id, in.item))
           } yield n
 
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/RCustomFieldValue.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/RCustomFieldValue.scala
index 53356233..8830dc58 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/RCustomFieldValue.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/RCustomFieldValue.scala
@@ -60,5 +60,8 @@ object RCustomFieldValue {
     deleteFrom(table, Columns.itemId.is(item)).update.run
 
   def deleteValue(fieldId: Ident, items: NonEmptyList[Ident]): ConnectionIO[Int] =
-    deleteFrom(table, and(Columns.id.is(fieldId), Columns.itemId.isIn(items))).update.run
+    deleteFrom(
+      table,
+      and(Columns.field.is(fieldId), Columns.itemId.isIn(items))
+    ).update.run
 }