diff --git a/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php b/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php
index 1e16dd382..cef13c9c2 100644
--- a/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php
+++ b/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php
@@ -394,7 +394,15 @@ class FileUpload extends FormWidgetBase
             $file->is_public = $fileRelation->isPublic();
             $file->save();
 
-            $fileRelation->add($file, $this->sessionKey);
+            /**
+             * Attach directly to the parent model if it exists,
+             * else attach via deferred binding
+             */
+            if (@$fileRelation->getParent()->exists) {
+                $fileRelation->add($file);
+            } else {
+                $fileRelation->add($file, $this->sessionKey);
+            }
 
             $file = $this->decorateFileAttributes($file);