diff --git a/mep/people/models.py b/mep/people/models.py
index 8efafb07..a9ffb521 100644
--- a/mep/people/models.py
+++ b/mep/people/models.py
@@ -543,13 +543,18 @@ class Meta:
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Adds birth and death dates if they aren't already set
-        and there's a viaf id for the record"""
+        and there's a viaf id for the record; keep a record of
+        past person slugs when a person slug has changed"""
 
+        # set birth and death date if VIAF id is set and birth year and death
+        # year are NOT set; UNLESS skip viaf lookup config or
+        # viaf date override are true
         if (
             not getattr(settings, "SKIP_VIAF_LOOKUP", False)
             and self.viaf_id
             and not self.birth_year
             and not self.death_year
+            and not self.viaf_date_override
         ):
             self.set_birth_death_years()
 
diff --git a/mep/people/tests/test_models.py b/mep/people/tests/test_models.py
index a48607a3..4cb2fc16 100644
--- a/mep/people/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/mep/people/tests/test_models.py
@@ -191,6 +191,15 @@ def test_save(self):
             pers.save()
             mock_setbirthdeath.assert_called_with()
 
+            # viaf set, no dates, and date override set to true
+            # - should NOT call
+            pers.viaf_date_override = True
+            pers.birth_year = None
+            pers.death_year = None
+            mock_setbirthdeath.reset_mock()
+            pers.save()
+            mock_setbirthdeath.assert_not_called()
+
             # should lookup normally, but configured to skip
             with override_settings(SKIP_VIAF_LOOKUP=True):
                 mock_setbirthdeath.reset_mock()