diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index fe9911c..1ec33ba 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -609,6 +609,26 @@ function field_collection_field_presave($entity_type, $entity, $field, $instance
       if (!empty($item['entity']->is_new)) {
         $item['entity']->setHostEntity($entity_type, $entity, LANGUAGE_NONE, FALSE);
       }
+      else {
+        if ($entity_type == 'node' || $entity_type == 'field_collection_item') {
+          // Reset item_id when it's a new translation.
+          if (isset($entity->nid) && !$entity->nid) {
+            $item['entity']->item_id = '';
+          }
+          else {
+            $query = new EntityFieldQuery();
+            $query->fieldCondition($item['entity']->field_name, 'value', $item['entity']->item_id, '=');
+            if (isset($entity->nid)) {
+              $query->entityCondition('entity_id', $entity->nid, '!=');
+            }
+            $result = $query->execute();
+            // Reset item_id if another node with the same instance exists.
+            if (!empty($result)) {
+              $item['entity']->item_id = '';
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
       $item['entity']->save(TRUE);
       $item = array('value' => $item['entity']->item_id);
     }