diff --git a/frappe/model/document.py b/frappe/model/document.py
index b582b7f3ae..72050cad5c 100644
--- a/frappe/model/document.py
+++ b/frappe/model/document.py
@@ -301,12 +301,16 @@ class Document(BaseDocument):
 			return
 
 		if rows:
-			# delete rows that do not match the ones in the
-			# document
-			frappe.db.sql("""delete from `tab{0}` where parent=%s
+			# select rows that do not match the ones in the document
+			deleted_rows = frappe.db.sql("""select name from `tab{0}` where parent=%s
 				and parenttype=%s and parentfield=%s
 				and name not in ({1})""".format(df.options, ','.join(['%s'] * len(rows))),
 					[self.name, self.doctype, fieldname] + rows)
+			if len(deleted_rows) > 0:
+				# delete rows that do not match the ones in the document
+				frappe.db.sql("""delete from `tab{0}` where name in ({1})""".format(df.options,
+					','.join(['%s'] * len(deleted_rows))), tuple(row[0] for row in deleted_rows))
+
 		else:
 			# no rows found, delete all rows
 			frappe.db.sql("""delete from `tab{0}` where parent=%s