diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index 80e4588..b8a8274 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -1295,7 +1295,7 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_embed_validate($element, &$form_state, $c
   field_attach_form_validate('field_collection_item', $field_collection_item, $element, $form_state);
 
   // Now validate required elements if the entity is not empty.
-  if (!field_collection_item_is_empty($field_collection_item) && !empty($element['#field_collection_required_elements'])) {
+  if ($field_collection_item && !field_collection_item_is_empty($field_collection_item) && !empty($element['#field_collection_required_elements'])) {
     foreach ($element['#field_collection_required_elements'] as &$elements) {
 
       // Copied from _form_validate().