diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index 30f175e..ffa4cd5 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -984,6 +984,7 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_form(&$form, &$form_state, $field, $insta
         $field_collection_item = $field_state['entity'][$delta];
       }
       else {
+        if(!isset($form_state['node']->nid)) unset($items[$delta]);
         $field_collection_item = field_collection_field_get_entity($items[$delta], $field_name);
 
         // Put our entity in the form state, so FAPI callbacks can access it.