diff --git a/feeds_ui/feeds_ui.admin.inc b/feeds_ui/feeds_ui.admin.inc
index fb63c8cc86eb2bd627e332320895aec63b27381e..5bfc231e8c5f7e0ee06e621e72ed837b5248c5f4 100644
--- a/feeds_ui/feeds_ui.admin.inc
+++ b/feeds_ui/feeds_ui.admin.inc
@@ -1148,9 +1148,12 @@ function feeds_ui_importer_import_validate($form, &$form_state) {
       '%api_version' => feeds_api_version())));
   }
 
-  $existing = feeds_importer($feeds_importer->id);
-  if ($existing && !$form_state['values']['id_override'] && $existing->export_type != EXPORT_IN_CODE) {
-    return form_error($form['id'], t('Feeds importer already exists with that id.'));
+  $exists = feeds_ui_importer_machine_name_exists($feeds_importer->id);
+
+  if ($exists && !$form_state['values']['id_override']) {
+    if (feeds_importer($feeds_importer->id)->export_type != EXPORT_IN_CODE) {
+      return form_error($form['id'], t('Feeds importer already exists with that id.'));
+    }
   }
 
   if (!$form_state['values']['bypass_validation']) {