diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain.py b/src/registrar/models/domain.py
index a8953200d..2bcc50292 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain.py
@@ -1967,7 +1967,7 @@ class Domain(TimeStampedModel, DomainHelper):
             logger.warning("_get_or_create_public_contact() -> Duplicate contacts found. Deleting duplicate.")
 
             # Q: Should we be deleting the newest or the oldest? Does it even matter?
-            oldest_duplicate = db_contact.order_by("created_at")
+            oldest_duplicate = db_contact.order_by("created_at").first()
 
             # Exclude the oldest entry
             duplicates_to_delete = db_contact.exclude(id=oldest_duplicate.id)