diff --git a/app/controllers/datacite_dois_controller.rb b/app/controllers/datacite_dois_controller.rb
index d30374299..f8dc277b5 100644
--- a/app/controllers/datacite_dois_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/datacite_dois_controller.rb
@@ -1112,7 +1112,6 @@ def safe_params
         dates
         identifiers
         relatedIdentifiers
-        relatedItems
         fundingReferences
         geoLocations
         rightsList
diff --git a/app/models/doi.rb b/app/models/doi.rb
index d320a7cb7..250680217 100644
--- a/app/models/doi.rb
+++ b/app/models/doi.rb
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class Doi < ApplicationRecord
   validate :check_landing_page, if: :landing_page?
   validate :check_identifiers, if: :identifiers?
   validate :check_related_identifiers, if: :related_identifiers?
-  validate :check_related_items, if: :related_items?
+  # validate :check_related_items, if: :related_items?
   validate :check_funding_references, if: :funding_references?
   validate :check_geo_locations, if: :geo_locations?
   validate :check_language, if: :language?
@@ -1656,14 +1656,14 @@ def identifier
     normalize_doi(doi, sandbox: !Rails.env.production?)
   end
 
-  # disable virtual attributes, as database has been migrated
-  # def related_items=(value)
-  #   write_attribute(:related_items, value) if has_attribute?(:related_items)
-  # end
+  # disable virtual attributes when database has been migrated
+  def related_items=(value)
+    write_attribute(:related_items, value) if has_attribute?(:related_items)
+  end
 
-  # def related_items
-  #   read_attribute(:related_items) if has_attribute?(:related_items)
-  # end
+  def related_items
+    read_attribute(:related_items) if has_attribute?(:related_items)
+  end
 
   def client_id
     client.symbol.downcase if client.present?