diff --git a/app/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service.rb b/app/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service.rb
index a4323b41c6..245133607c 100644
--- a/app/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service.rb
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ class ActivityPub::ProcessFeaturedItemService
     with_redis_lock("collection_item:#{@item_json['id']}") do
       @collection_item = existing_item || pre_approved_item || new_item
 
+      @collection_item.position = position unless position.nil?
       @collection_item.update!(
         uri: @item_json['id'],
-        object_uri: value_or_id(@item_json['featuredObject']),
-        position:
+        object_uri: value_or_id(@item_json['featuredObject'])
       )
 
       @approval_uri = @item_json['featureAuthorization']
diff --git a/spec/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service_spec.rb
index 14147b3784..d21b4ccea5 100644
--- a/spec/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/activitypub/process_featured_item_service_spec.rb
@@ -72,15 +72,25 @@ RSpec.describe ActivityPub::ProcessFeaturedItemService do
       end
     end
 
-    context 'when item exists at a different position' do
+    context 'when item exists' do
       let!(:collection_item) do
         Fabricate(:collection_item, collection:, uri: featured_item_json['id'], position: 2)
       end
 
-      it 'updates the position' do
-        expect { subject.call(collection, object, position:) }.to_not change(collection.collection_items, :count)
+      context 'when no position is given' do
+        it 'does not change the position' do
+          expect { subject.call(collection, object) }.to_not change(collection.collection_items, :count)
 
-        expect(collection_item.reload.position).to eq 3
+          expect(collection_item.reload.position).to eq 2
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when a different position is given' do
+        it 'updates the position' do
+          expect { subject.call(collection, object, position:) }.to_not change(collection.collection_items, :count)
+
+          expect(collection_item.reload.position).to eq 3
+        end
       end
     end