diff --git a/src/main/java/org/caosdb/server/database/DatabaseUtils.java b/src/main/java/org/caosdb/server/database/DatabaseUtils.java
index 47e8a9afe4fb2d81d40e71aff01c81ea314a26ca..def9b59da5795d8a1d140c8dc1f32453b2cd6b0d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/caosdb/server/database/DatabaseUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/caosdb/server/database/DatabaseUtils.java
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ public class DatabaseUtils {
         && (!p.hasProperties() || hasUniquePropertyId(p, e))
         && !(p.getDatatype() instanceof AbstractCollectionDatatype)) {
       // if p has no sub-properties, just add it
+      p.setReplacement(null);
     } else {
       stage1Inserts.add(makeReplacement(p));
     }