diff --git a/tests/test_role.py b/tests/test_role.py
index f1121e411..b0d89f05b 100644
--- a/tests/test_role.py
+++ b/tests/test_role.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import pickle
 
 from quixote import get_publisher
 
+from wcs import sql
 from wcs.roles import get_user_roles
 
 from .utilities import clean_temporary_pub, create_temporary_pub
@@ -38,13 +39,13 @@ def test_migrate():
     get_publisher().role_class.wipe()
     role = get_publisher().role_class(name='Hello world')
     role.store()
-    with open(role.get_object_filename(), 'rb') as fd:
-        obj = pickle.load(fd)
-    del obj.slug
-    with open(role.get_object_filename(), 'wb') as fd:
-        pickle.dump(obj, fd)
-    with open(role.get_object_filename(), 'rb') as fd:
-        assert pickle.load(fd).slug is None
+
+    conn, cur = sql.get_connection_and_cursor()
+    sql_statement = 'UPDATE roles SET slug = NULL'
+    cur.execute(sql_statement)
+    conn.commit()
+    cur.close()
+
     assert get_publisher().role_class.get(role.id).slug == 'hello-world'
 
 
diff --git a/wcs/sql.py b/wcs/sql.py
index 8f2718f23..6d9a611da 100644
--- a/wcs/sql.py
+++ b/wcs/sql.py
@@ -3264,6 +3264,14 @@ class Role(SqlMixin, wcs.roles.Role):
 
     _numerical_id = False
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get(cls, id, ignore_errors=False, ignore_migration=False, column=None):
+        o = super().get(id, ignore_errors=ignore_errors, ignore_migration=ignore_migration, column=column)
+        if o and not ignore_migration:
+            if o.migrate():
+                o.store()
+        return o
+
     @guard_postgres
     def store(self):
         if self.slug is None: