diff --git a/app/models/work.rb b/app/models/work.rb
index 1081e9fc52..4cca79d12e 100644
--- a/app/models/work.rb
+++ b/app/models/work.rb
@@ -303,9 +303,13 @@ def thumbnail
 
   def normalize_friendly_id(string)
     string = string.truncate(230, separator: ' ', omission: '')
+    unless string.match? /[[:alpha:]]/
+      string = "work-#{string}"
+    end
     super.gsub('_', '-')
   end
 
+
   def slug_candidates
     if self.slug
       [:slug]