diff --git a/packages/api/src/resolvers/highlight/index.ts b/packages/api/src/resolvers/highlight/index.ts
index 8e0f22c9e..a142b3299 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/resolvers/highlight/index.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/resolvers/highlight/index.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export const mergeHighlightResolver = authorized<
   MergeHighlightSuccess,
   MergeHighlightError,
   MutationMergeHighlightArgs
->(async (_, { input }, { log, pubsub, uid }) => {
+>(async (_, { input }, { authTrx, log, pubsub, uid }) => {
   const { overlapHighlightIdList, ...newHighlightInput } = input
 
   /* Compute merged annotation form the order of highlights appearing on page */
@@ -90,9 +90,10 @@ export const mergeHighlightResolver = authorized<
   const mergedColors: string[] = []
 
   try {
-    const existingHighlights = await highlightRepository.findByLibraryItemId(
-      input.articleId,
-      uid
+    const existingHighlights = await authTrx((tx) =>
+      tx
+        .withRepository(highlightRepository)
+        .findByLibraryItemId(input.articleId, uid)
     )
 
     existingHighlights.forEach((highlight) => {
diff --git a/packages/api/test/resolvers/highlight.test.ts b/packages/api/test/resolvers/highlight.test.ts
index a81602cd1..aef7aecae 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/resolvers/highlight.test.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/resolvers/highlight.test.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
+/* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/restrict-template-expressions */
 import * as chai from 'chai'
 import { expect } from 'chai'
 import chaiString from 'chai-string'
 import 'mocha'
-import { Highlight } from '../../src/entity/highlight'
 import { User } from '../../src/entity/user'
-import { getRepository } from '../../src/repository'
 import {
   createHighlight,
   deleteHighlightById,
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@ describe('Highlights API', () => {
       .post('/local/debug/fake-user-login')
       .send({ fakeEmail: user.email })
 
-    authToken = res.body.authToken
+    authToken = res.body.authToken as string
     itemId = (await createTestLibraryItem(user.id)).id
   })