diff --git a/src/comms/comms.py b/src/comms/comms.py
index 303d17ac74..22d625bd0e 100644
--- a/src/comms/comms.py
+++ b/src/comms/comms.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ class Channel(ChannelDB):
             # with the utils.create.create_channel function.
             cdict = self._createdict
             if not cdict["key"]:
-                self.db_key = "#i" % self.dbid
+                if not self.db_key:
+                    self.db_key = "#i" % self.dbid
             elif cdict["key"] and self.key != cdict["key"]:
                 self.key = cdict["key"]
             if cdict["keep_log"]:
diff --git a/src/objects/objects.py b/src/objects/objects.py
index 0744216fdc..5dd39d9dee 100644
--- a/src/objects/objects.py
+++ b/src/objects/objects.py
@@ -859,8 +859,9 @@ class DefaultObject(ObjectDB):
             cdict = self._createdict
             updates = []
             if not cdict["key"]:
-                self.db_key = "#%i" % self.dbid
-                updates.append("db_key")
+                if not self.db_key:
+                    self.db_key = "#%i" % self.dbid
+                    updates.append("db_key")
             elif self.key != cdict["key"]:
                 updates.append("db_key")
                 self.db_key = cdict["key"]
diff --git a/src/scripts/scripts.py b/src/scripts/scripts.py
index 5beefedb4e..e8c9cd9916 100644
--- a/src/scripts/scripts.py
+++ b/src/scripts/scripts.py
@@ -444,9 +444,10 @@ class Script(ScriptBase):
             cdict = self._createdict
             updates = []
             if not cdict["key"]:
-                self.db_key = "#%i" % self.dbid
-                updates.append("db_key")
-            elif self.key != cdict["db_key"]:
+                if not self.db_key:
+                    self.db_key = "#%i" % self.dbid
+                    updates.append("db_key")
+            elif self.db_key != cdict["db_key"]:
                 self.db_key = cdict["key"]
                 updates.append("db_key")
             if cdict["interval"] and self.interval != cdict["interval"]: