diff --git a/server/books/schema/mutations/utils.py b/server/books/schema/mutations/utils.py
index b6fc0f1b..26d0df40 100644
--- a/server/books/schema/mutations/utils.py
+++ b/server/books/schema/mutations/utils.py
@@ -144,15 +144,16 @@ def handle_content_block(content, context=None, module=None, allowed_blocks=ALLO
             }
         }
     elif content['type'] == 'content_list_item':
-        if content.get('id') is not None: # the list block existed already
+        if content.get('id') is not None:  # the list block existed already
             previous_item = get_previous_item(previous_contents=previous_contents, item=content)
             previous_content = previous_item.get('value')
         else:
             previous_content = None
         value = [handle_content_block(c, context, module, previous_contents=previous_content) for c in
                  content['contents']]
-        content['value'] = value
-        return content
+        return {'type': 'content_list_item',
+                'value': value,
+                'id': content.get('id')}
     elif content['type'] == 'readonly' and previous_contents is not None:
         # get first item that matches the id
         # users can re-order readonly items, but we won't let them change them otherwise, so we just take the