diff --git a/rero_ils/modules/documents/api.py b/rero_ils/modules/documents/api.py
index 2336e83a0e..bdfeddea68 100644
--- a/rero_ils/modules/documents/api.py
+++ b/rero_ils/modules/documents/api.py
@@ -303,11 +303,16 @@ def get_document_pids_by_issn(cls, issn_number: str):
     def replace_refs(self):
         """Replace $ref with real data."""
         from ..contributions.api import Contribution
-        for contribution in self.get('contribution', []):
+        contributions = self.get('contribution', [])
+        # we need to iterate over a copy of the list if we want to remove an
+        # element on the original list
+        for contribution in list(contributions):
             if ref := contribution['agent'].get('$ref'):
                 agent, _ = Contribution.get_record_by_ref(ref)
                 if agent:
                     contribution['agent'] = agent
+                else:
+                    contributions.remove(contribution)
         for subjects in ['subjects', 'subjects_imported']:
             for subject in self.get(subjects, []):
                 subject_ref = subject.get('$ref')
diff --git a/tests/ui/documents/test_documents_api.py b/tests/ui/documents/test_documents_api.py
index ff7416b4a0..9fbb69262b 100644
--- a/tests/ui/documents/test_documents_api.py
+++ b/tests/ui/documents/test_documents_api.py
@@ -241,3 +241,36 @@ def test_document_indexing(document, export_document):
     document['title'].pop(-1)
     document['title'][0]['mainTitle'][1]['value'] = orig_title
     document.update(document, dbcommit=True, reindex=True)
+
+
+def test_document_replace_refs(document):
+    """Test document replace refs."""
+    data = document.replace_refs()
+    assert len(data.get('contribution')) == 1
+
+    # add wrong referenced contribution agent
+    contributions = document.get('contribution', [])
+    contributions.append({
+        'agent': {
+          'type': 'bf:Person',
+          '$ref': 'https://mef.rero.ch/api/agents/iderf/WRONGIDREF'
+        },
+        'role': [
+          'aut'
+        ]
+      })
+    data = document.replace_refs()
+    assert len(data.get('contribution')) == 1
+
+    # add MEF contribution agent
+    contributions.append({
+        'agent': {
+            'type': 'bf:Person',
+            '$ref': 'https://mef.rero.ch/api/agents/rero/A017671081'
+        },
+        'role': [
+            'aut'
+        ]
+    })
+    data = document.replace_refs()
+    assert len(data.get('contribution')) == 2