diff --git a/C4/Circulation.pm b/C4/Circulation.pm
index 2bcff6200d..5d91a85cd2 100644
--- a/C4/Circulation.pm
+++ b/C4/Circulation.pm
@@ -1819,10 +1819,10 @@ sub AddReturn {
     }
 
     my $itemnumber = $item->{ itemnumber };
-    my $biblio = GetBiblioData( $item->{ biblionumber } );
-    my $itemtype   = ( C4::Context->preference("item-level_itypes") )
-                        ? $item->{ itype }
-                        : $biblio->{ itemtype };
+
+    my $item_level_itypes = C4::Context->preference("item-level_itypes");
+    my $biblio   = $item_level_itypes ? undef : GetBiblioData( $item->{ biblionumber } ); # don't get bib data unless we need it
+    my $itemtype = $item_level_itypes ? $item->{itype} : $biblio->{itemtype};
 
     my $issue  = GetItemIssue($itemnumber);
     if ($issue and $issue->{borrowernumber}) {