diff --git a/sites/all/modules/node_export/node_export.module b/sites/all/modules/node_export/node_export.module
index 8d70363..b9f5649 100644
--- a/sites/all/modules/node_export/node_export.module
+++ b/sites/all/modules/node_export/node_export.module
@@ -1182,8 +1182,12 @@ function _node_export_file_field_import_file(&$file) {
     if (!empty($query)) {
       watchdog('node_export', 'kept existing managed file at uri "%uri"', array('%uri' => $file->uri), WATCHDOG_NOTICE);
       $file = file_load(array_shift($query));
+      $newfile = (object)array_merge((array)$oldfile,(array)$file);
+    } 
+    else {
+      $newfile = $oldfile;
+      $newfile->fid  = NULL;
     }
-    $newfile = (object)array_merge((array)$oldfile,(array)$file);
     $file = file_save($newfile);
   }
   elseif (isset($file->node_export_file_data)) {