diff --git a/src/model/database.ts b/src/model/database.ts
index d2f15dc..f04a13d 100644
--- a/src/model/database.ts
+++ b/src/model/database.ts
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ export async function addCategory(category: Category) {
 export async function removeExpression(expression_id: number) {
   return await database.transaction(
     "rw",
-    database.expression_sets,
+    database.expressions,
     database.expression_to_category,
     database.expression_to_expression_set,
     () => {
-      database.expression_sets.where({ id: expression_id }).delete();
+      database.expressions.where({ id: expression_id }).delete();
       database.expression_to_category.where({ expression_id }).delete();
       database.expression_to_expression_set.where({ expression_id }).delete();
     }
diff --git a/src/views/ExpressionPracticeView/PromoteExpressionButton.tsx b/src/views/ExpressionPracticeView/PromoteExpressionButton.tsx
index abca71e..498c232 100644
--- a/src/views/ExpressionPracticeView/PromoteExpressionButton.tsx
+++ b/src/views/ExpressionPracticeView/PromoteExpressionButton.tsx
@@ -1,22 +1,30 @@
 import { useCallback } from "react";
 import { useExpressionSetQueryId } from "../../hooks";
-import { assignExpressionToSet } from "../../model";
-
-// TODO fix promotion algorithm so it uses a destination expression_set_id
+import { assignExpressionToSet, database, removeExpression } from "../../model";
 
 export interface PromoteExpressionButtonProps {
   expression_id: number;
 }
 
+// "Promote" action will destroy the card if it's learning level is already at top level
+// TODO notify user of card deletion
+
 export function PromoteExpressionButton({
   expression_id,
 }: PromoteExpressionButtonProps) {
   const expression_set_id = useExpressionSetQueryId();
-  const handleClick = useCallback(() => {
-    assignExpressionToSet({
-      expression_id,
-      expression_set_id: expression_set_id + 1,
-    });
+  const handleClick = useCallback(async () => {
+    const existing_next_level = await database.expression_sets
+      .where({ id: expression_set_id + 1 })
+      .first();
+    if (existing_next_level) {
+      assignExpressionToSet({
+        expression_id,
+        expression_set_id: expression_set_id + 1,
+      });
+    } else {
+      removeExpression(expression_id);
+    }
   }, [expression_id, expression_set_id]);
 
   return (