diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/dataObject.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/dataObject.js
index 05d5b59c2..c94b5ddf3 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/dataObject.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/dataObject.js
@@ -1175,10 +1175,6 @@ Zotero.DataObject.prototype.toResponseJSON = function (options) {
 
 
 Zotero.DataObject.prototype._preToJSON = function (options) {
-	if (!this._id) {
-		throw new Error(`${this._ObjectType} must be saved before running toJSON()`);
-	}
-	
 	var env = { options };
 	env.mode = options.mode || 'new';
 	if (env.mode == 'patch') {