diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index 645093a..7ddb5a0 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -1395,8 +1395,8 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_form(&$form, &$form_state, $field, $insta
       }
 
       field_form_set_state($field_parents, $field_name, $language, $form_state, $field_state);
-      field_attach_form('field_collection_item', $field_collection_item, $element, $form_state, $language);
-
+      $field_collection_element =  $element;
+      field_attach_form('field_collection_item', $field_collection_item, $field_collection_element, $form_state, $language);
       if (empty($element['#required'])) {
         $element['#after_build'][] = 'field_collection_field_widget_embed_delay_required_validation';
       }
@@ -1419,7 +1419,7 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_form(&$form, &$form_state, $field, $insta
       }
 
       $recursion--;
-      return $element;
+      return $element + $field_collection_element;
   }
 }