diff --git a/backend/src/services/submissions.ts b/backend/src/services/submissions.ts
index 0f225845..ec19b280 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/submissions.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/submissions.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export async function getAllSubmissions(loId: LearningObjectIdentifier): Promise
 
 export async function createSubmission(submissionDTO: SubmissionDTO): Promise<SubmissionDTO> {
     const submitter = await fetchStudent(submissionDTO.submitter.username);
-    const group = await getExistingGroupFromGroupDTO(submissionDTO.group!);
+    const group = await getExistingGroupFromGroupDTO(submissionDTO.group);
 
     const submissionRepository = getSubmissionRepository();
     const submission = mapToSubmission(submissionDTO, submitter, group);