diff --git a/src/ttfrog/schema.py b/src/ttfrog/schema.py
index 727197b..2fa7598 100644
--- a/src/ttfrog/schema.py
+++ b/src/ttfrog/schema.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from datetime import datetime
-from functools import cache
 from typing import List
 
-from grung.types import BackReference, Collection, DateTime, Field, Password, Pointer, Record, Timestamp
+from grung.types import BackReference, Collection, DateTime, Dict, Field, Password, Pointer, Record, Timestamp
 from tinydb import where
 
 
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ class Page(Record):
             Pointer("author", value_type=User),        # The last user to touch the page.
             DateTime("created"),                       # When the page was created
             Timestamp("last_modified"),                # The last time the page was modified.
-            Collection("acl", Permissions),            # The access control list
+            Dict("acl"),
         ]
         # fmt: on
 
@@ -79,18 +78,17 @@ class Page(Record):
                 return page
         return None
 
-    def set_permissions(self, entity: Entity, permissions: List) -> Record:
+    def set_permissions(self, entity: Entity, permissions: List) -> str:
         from ttfrog import app
 
         app.check_state()
 
-        perms = app.db.save(Permissions(entity=entity, grants="".join(permissions)))
-        self.acl = list(set(self.acl + [perms]))
+        perms = "".join(permissions)
+        self.acl[entity.reference] = perms
         app.db.save(self)
         return perms
 
-    @cache
-    def get_acl_for_entity(self, entity) -> list:
+    def get_acl_for_entity(self, entity) -> (str, str | None):
         """
         Search upward through the page hierarchy looking for one with an ACL that either
         has a grant for the entity we care about, or at least one group in which the entity is a member.
@@ -101,36 +99,29 @@ class Page(Record):
 
         def find_acl(obj):
             if hasattr(obj, "acl"):
-                # examine each entry in the ACL and see if one refers to the entity we care about
-                group_grants = []
-                for entry in obj.acl:
-                    if type(entry) == str:
-                        entry = app.db.Permissions.get(where("uid") == entry.split("::")[1], recurse=False)
+                if entity.reference in obj.acl:
+                    return {entity.reference: obj.acl[entity.reference]}
 
-                    # grants specific to the entity always take precedence
-                    if entry.entity.uid == entity.uid:
-                        return [entry]
-
-                    # keep track of grants to groups containing the entity
-                    elif entity.reference in getattr(entry.entity, "members", []):
-                        group_grants.append(entry)
-
-                # if we found group grants, return them
+                group_grants = {}
+                for ref, grant in obj.acl.items():
+                    if ref.startswith("Group::"):
+                        group = app.db.Group.get(where("uid") == ref.split("::")[1], recurse=False)
+                        if entity.reference in group.members:
+                            group_grants[ref] = grant
                 if group_grants:
                     return group_grants
 
-            # no ACL on this object, so check its parent, if there is one
-            if not hasattr(obj, "parent"):
-                return []
-            return find_acl(obj.parent)
+            if hasattr(obj, "parent"):
+                return find_acl(obj.parent)
+            return {"": ""}
 
         return find_acl(self)
 
 
 class Entity(Page):
     def has_permission(self, record: Record, requested: str) -> bool | None:
-        for acl in record.get_acl_for_entity(self):
-            if requested in acl.grants:
+        for entity, grants in record.get_acl_for_entity(self).items():
+            if requested in grants:
                 return True
         return False
 
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index 5c782e0..ea96011 100644
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ def test_permissions(app):
     # set to rw, no delete
     notes.set_permissions(players, [schema.Permissions.READ, schema.Permissions.WRITE])
     notes = app.db.Page.get(doc_id=notes.doc_id)
-
     assert players.can_read(notes)
     assert players.can_write(notes)
     assert not players.can_delete(notes)