diff --git a/src/rard/research/forms.py b/src/rard/research/forms.py
index a0d56d15..4db5da4b 100644
--- a/src/rard/research/forms.py
+++ b/src/rard/research/forms.py
@@ -572,9 +572,11 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         if original_text:
             self.fields["content"].widget.attrs["data-object"] = original_text.pk
             # Only enable apparatus criticus editing if object exists
-            self.fields["content"].widget.attrs[
-                "class"
-            ] = "enableApparatusCriticus enableCKEditor"
+            self.fields["content"].widget.attrs["class"] = "enableCKEditor"
+            if original_text.apparatus_criticus_items.count() > 0:
+                self.fields["content"].widget.attrs[
+                    "class"
+                ] += " enableApparatusCriticus"
 
     def clean_reference_order(self):
         # Reference order needs to be stored as a string with leading 0s such
@@ -633,9 +635,9 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # of an existing instance to be blank and assign a newly-created
         # work to the original text instance in the view
         self.set_citing_work_required(True)
-        self.fields["content"].widget.attrs[
-            "class"
-        ] = "enableApparatusCriticus enableCKEditor"
+        self.fields["content"].widget.attrs["class"] = "enableCKEditor"
+        if original_text and original_text.apparatus_criticus_items.count() > 0:
+            self.fields["content"].widget.attrs["class"] += " enableApparatusCriticus"
 
     def set_citing_work_required(self, required):
         # to allow set/reset required fields dynically in the view