diff --git a/core/admin/mailu/schemas.py b/core/admin/mailu/schemas.py
index 4a9792ec..2af3f03b 100644
--- a/core/admin/mailu/schemas.py
+++ b/core/admin/mailu/schemas.py
@@ -909,16 +909,23 @@ class BaseSchema(ma.SQLAlchemyAutoSchema, Storage):
         # stabilize import of auto-increment primary keys (not required),
         # by matching import data to existing items and setting primary key
         if not self._primary in data:
-            for item in getattr(self.recall('parent'), self.recall('field', 'parent')):
-                existing = self.dump(item, many=False)
-                this = existing.pop(self._primary)
-                if data == existing:
-                    instance = item
-                    data[self._primary] = this
-                    break
+            parent = self.recall('parent')
+            if parent is not None:
+                for item in getattr(parent, self.recall('field', 'parent')):
+                    existing = self.dump(item, many=False)
+                    this = existing.pop(self._primary)
+                    if data == existing:
+                        instance = item
+                        data[self._primary] = this
+                        break
 
         # try to load instance
         instance = self.instance or self.get_instance(data)
+
+        # remember instance as parent for pruning siblings
+        if not self.Meta.sibling and self.context.get('update'):
+            self.store('parent', instance)
+
         if instance is None:
 
             if '__delete__' in data:
@@ -931,9 +938,6 @@ class BaseSchema(ma.SQLAlchemyAutoSchema, Storage):
         else:
 
             if self.context.get('update'):
-                # remember instance as parent for pruning siblings
-                if not self.Meta.sibling:
-                    self.store('parent', instance)
                 # delete instance from session when marked
                 if '__delete__' in data:
                     self.opts.sqla_session.delete(instance)
@@ -1014,14 +1018,16 @@ class BaseSchema(ma.SQLAlchemyAutoSchema, Storage):
                 del_items = True
 
         if add_items or del_items:
-            existing = {item[self._primary] for item in items if self._primary in item}
-            for item in getattr(self.recall('parent'), self.recall('field', 'parent')):
-                key = getattr(item, self._primary)
-                if key not in existing:
-                    if add_items:
-                        items.append({self._primary: key})
-                    else:
-                        items.append({self._primary: key, '__delete__': '?'})
+            parent = self.recall('parent')
+            if parent is not None:
+                existing = {item[self._primary] for item in items if self._primary in item}
+                for item in getattr(parent, self.recall('field', 'parent')):
+                    key = getattr(item, self._primary)
+                    if key not in existing:
+                        if add_items:
+                            items.append({self._primary: key})
+                        else:
+                            items.append({self._primary: key, '__delete__': '?'})
 
         return items
 
diff --git a/towncrier/newsfragments/2601.bugfix b/towncrier/newsfragments/2601.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cae03015
--- /dev/null
+++ b/towncrier/newsfragments/2601.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix creation of deep structures using import in update mode