diff --git a/plugins/importexport/csv/CSVImportExportPlugin.inc.php b/plugins/importexport/csv/CSVImportExportPlugin.inc.php
index 5bcff5e425..218f7017b0 100755
--- a/plugins/importexport/csv/CSVImportExportPlugin.inc.php
+++ b/plugins/importexport/csv/CSVImportExportPlugin.inc.php
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ function executeCLI($scriptName, &$args) {
 				$submissionDao->updateObject($submission);
 
 				$contactEmail = $press->getContactEmail();
-				$authorString = trim($authorString, '"'); // remove double quotes if present.
-				$authors = preg_split('/;/', $authorString);
+				$authorsString = trim($authorString, '"'); // remove double quotes if present.
+				$authors = preg_split('/;/', $authorsString);
 				$firstAuthor = true;
 
 				foreach ($authors as $authorString) {
@@ -226,12 +226,21 @@ function executeCLI($scriptName, &$args) {
 					$author->setGivenName($givenName, $locale);
 					$author->setFamilyName($familyName, $locale);
 					$author->setEmail($emailAddress);
+					$insertPrimaryContactId = false;
+
 					if ($firstAuthor) {
-						$author->setPrimaryContact(1);
+						$author->setPrimaryContact(true);
 						$firstAuthor = false;
+						$insertPrimaryContactId = true;
 					}
+
+
 					$author->setData('publicationId', $publicationId);
 					$authorDao->insertObject($author);
+
+					if ($insertPrimaryContactId) {
+						$publication->setData('primaryContactId', $author->getId());
+					}
 				} // Authors done.
 
 				$publication->setData('abstract', $abstract, $locale);