diff --git a/modules/file/file.field.inc b/modules/file/file.field.inc
index 1189704..75ab593 100644
--- a/modules/file/file.field.inc
+++ b/modules/file/file.field.inc
@@ -262,14 +262,16 @@ function file_field_update($entity_type, $entity, $field, $instance, $langcode,
   }
 
   // Compare the original field values with the ones that are being saved.
-  $original = $entity->original;
   $original_fids = array();
-  if (!empty($original->{$field['field_name']}[$langcode])) {
-    foreach ($original->{$field['field_name']}[$langcode] as $original_item) {
-      $original_fids[] = $original_item['fid'];
-      if (isset($original_item['fid']) && !in_array($original_item['fid'], $current_fids)) {
-        // Decrement the file usage count by 1 and delete the file if possible.
-        file_field_delete_file($original_item, $field, $entity_type, $id);
+  if (isset($entity->original)) {
+    $original = $entity->original;
+    if (!empty($original->{$field['field_name']}[$langcode])) {
+      foreach ($original->{$field['field_name']}[$langcode] as $original_item) {
+        $original_fids[] = $original_item['fid'];
+        if (isset($original_item['fid']) && !in_array($original_item['fid'], $current_fids)) {
+          // Decrement the file usage count by 1 and delete the file if possible.
+          file_field_delete_file($original_item, $field, $entity_type, $id);
+        }
       }
     }
   }