diff --git a/apps/api/app/community_review.py b/apps/api/app/community_review.py
index 74da105..d580652 100644
--- a/apps/api/app/community_review.py
+++ b/apps/api/app/community_review.py
@@ -61,13 +61,16 @@ def suggest_aliases(session: Session, observation: ExternalObservation) -> tuple
     return (fish_alias.fish if fish_alias else None, waterbody_alias.waterbody if waterbody_alias else None)
 
 
-def reject_observation(session: Session, observation: ExternalObservation, *, reason: str) -> ExternalObservation:
+def reject_observation(
+    session: Session, observation: ExternalObservation, *, reason: str, commit: bool = True,
+) -> ExternalObservation:
     if observation.status == "published":
         raise ExternalReviewError("published observation cannot be rejected")
     observation.status = "rejected"
     observation.review_note = reason
     observation.reviewed_at = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
-    session.commit()
+    if commit:
+        session.commit()
     return observation
 
 
diff --git a/apps/api/app/routers/admin.py b/apps/api/app/routers/admin.py
index 416ea56..9473577 100644
--- a/apps/api/app/routers/admin.py
+++ b/apps/api/app/routers/admin.py
@@ -388,7 +388,8 @@ def admin_reject_external_observations_bulk(payload: ExternalObservationBulkDeci
         raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail="one or more observations changed; reload the queue")
     for item in observations:
         item.moderation_version += 1
-        reject_observation(db, item, reason=payload.reason)
+        reject_observation(db, item, reason=payload.reason, commit=False)
+    db.commit()
     return ExternalObservationBulkResult(updated=len(observations))