diff --git a/src/Models/ElementalArea.php b/src/Models/ElementalArea.php
index c5ee3657..efbc3391 100644
--- a/src/Models/ElementalArea.php
+++ b/src/Models/ElementalArea.php
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 use SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBField;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBHTMLText;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\HasManyList;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\UnsavedRelationList;
 use SilverStripe\Versioned\Versioned;
 
 /**
@@ -108,6 +109,11 @@ public function Breadcrumbs()
      */
     public function ElementControllers()
     {
+        // Don't try and process unsaved lists
+        if ($this->Elements() instanceof UnsavedRelationList) {
+            return ArrayList::create();
+        }
+
         $controllers = ArrayList::create();
         $items = $this->Elements()->filterByCallback(function (BaseElement $item) {
             return $item->canView();
diff --git a/tests/ElementalAreaTest.php b/tests/ElementalAreaTest.php
index 584b3caf..0d980895 100644
--- a/tests/ElementalAreaTest.php
+++ b/tests/ElementalAreaTest.php
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 
 use DNADesign\Elemental\Extensions\ElementalPageExtension;
 use DNADesign\Elemental\Models\ElementalArea;
+use DNADesign\Elemental\Models\ElementContent;
 use DNADesign\Elemental\Tests\Src\TestElement;
 use DNADesign\Elemental\Tests\Src\TestPage;
 use Page;
 use SilverStripe\Dev\SapphireTest;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\ArrayList;
 use SilverStripe\Versioned\Versioned;
 
 class ElementalAreaTest extends SapphireTest
@@ -116,4 +118,18 @@ public function testDuplicate()
         $this->assertCount(2, $duplicatedAreaIds);
         $this->assertNotEquals($areaIds, $duplicatedAreaIds);
     }
+
+    public function testUnsavedRelationListOfElementsReturnsEmptyArrayList()
+    {
+        $area = new ElementalArea();
+
+        $element = new ElementContent();
+        $element->HTML = 'Test';
+
+        $area->Elements()->add($element);
+
+        $result = $area->ElementControllers();
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(ArrayList::class, $result);
+        $this->assertEmpty($result);
+    }
 }