diff --git a/modules/node/node.module b/modules/node/node.module
index fb3756d..8bdd557 100644
--- a/modules/node/node.module
+++ b/modules/node/node.module
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ function node_save($node) {
 
     // Update the node access table for this node. There's no need to delete
     // existing records if the node is new.
-    $delete = $op == 'update';
+    $delete = !$node->is_new;
     node_access_acquire_grants($node, $delete);
 
     // Clear internal properties.