diff --git a/corrlib/main.py b/corrlib/main.py
index bac9182..defe03a 100644
--- a/corrlib/main.py
+++ b/corrlib/main.py
@@ -52,24 +52,29 @@ def update_project_data(db, uuid, prop, value = None):
     return
 
 
-def update_aliases(path, uuid, aliases):
-    known_data = _project_lookup_by_id(path + "/backlogger.db", uuid)[0]
+def update_aliases(path: str, uuid: str, aliases: list[str]):
+    db = os.path.join(path, "backlogger.db")
+    known_data = _project_lookup_by_id(db, uuid)[0]
     known_aliases = known_data[1]
+
     if aliases is None:
         aliases = []
     if known_aliases is None:
-        print(f"Project {uuid} is already imported, no known aliases.")
+        print(f"Project {uuid} has no known aliases.")
         known_alias_list = []
     else:
-        print(f"Project {uuid} is already imported, known by names: {known_aliases}")
+        print(f"Project {uuid} is known by names: {known_aliases}")
         known_alias_list = str2list(known_aliases)
-    new_alias_list = known_alias_list
+    new_alias_list = known_alias_list.copy()
     for aka in aliases:
         if aka not in known_alias_list:
             new_alias_list.append(aka)
+
     if not len(new_alias_list) == len(known_alias_list):
         alias_str = list2str(new_alias_list)
-        update_project_data(path, uuid, "aliases", alias_str)
+        dl.unlock(db, dataset=path)
+        update_project_data(db, uuid, "aliases", alias_str)
+        dl.save(db, dataset=path)
     return
 
 
@@ -121,7 +126,11 @@ def import_project(path: str, url: str, owner: Union[str, None]=None, tags: Unio
         dl.drop(tmp_path, reckless='kill')
         shutil.rmtree(tmp_path)    
         if aliases is not None:
-            update_aliases(path, uuid, aliases)
+            if isinstance(aliases, str):
+                alias_list = [aliases]
+            else:
+                alias_list = aliases
+            update_aliases(path, uuid, alias_list)
             
     # make this more concrete
     return uuid