diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index 98f59a2..20d703a 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -1390,7 +1390,6 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_render_required($element) {
  * FAPI validation of an individual field collection element.
  */
 function field_collection_field_widget_embed_validate($element, &$form_state, $complete_form) {
-  $instance = field_widget_instance($element, $form_state);
   $field = field_widget_field($element, $form_state);
   $field_parents = $element['#field_parents'];
   $field_name = $element['#field_name'];
@@ -1403,15 +1402,17 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_embed_validate($element, &$form_state, $c
   if (isset($field_state['entity'][$element['#delta']])) {
     $field_collection_item = $field_state['entity'][$element['#delta']];
   }
-  elseif ($form_state['values'][$field_state['array_parents'][0]][$field_state['array_parents'][1]][$element['#delta']]) {
-    $field_collection_item = clone $field_state['entity'][0];
-    foreach ($form_state['values'][$field_state['array_parents'][0]][$field_state['array_parents'][1]][$element['#delta']] as $key => $value) {
-      if (property_exists($field_collection_item, $key)) {
-        $field_collection_item->{$key} = $value;
+  else {
+    $field_values = drupal_array_get_nested_value($form_state['values'], $field_state['array_parents']);
+    if ($field_values[$element['#delta']]) {
+      $field_collection_item = entity_create('field_collection_item', array('field_name' => $field['field_name']));
+      foreach ($field_values[$element['#delta']] as $key => $value) {
+        if (property_exists($field_collection_item, $key)) {
+          $field_collection_item->{$key} = $value;
+        }
       }
     }
   }
-
   // Handle a possible language change.
   if (field_collection_item_is_translatable()) {
     $handler = entity_translation_get_handler('field_collection_item', $field_collection_item);