diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java
index 7860293ff2..bda3186116 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ public void merge(EntityBean bean, EntityBean existing, BeanMergeHelp mergeHelp)
           }
         } else {
           toBC = createEmpty(existing);
+          toBC.setDisableLazyLoad(true);
           setValueIntercept(existing, toBC);
         }