diff --git a/cookbook/serializer.py b/cookbook/serializer.py
index 4885d59fe..792b65e6c 100644
--- a/cookbook/serializer.py
+++ b/cookbook/serializer.py
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ class MealPlanSerializer(SpacedModelSerializer, WritableNestedModelSerializer):
     def create(self, validated_data):
         validated_data['created_by'] = self.context['request'].user
         mealplan = super().create(validated_data)
-        if self.context['request'].data.get('addshopping', False):
+        if self.context['request'].data.get('addshopping', False) and self.context['request'].data.get('recipe', None):
             SLR = RecipeShoppingEditor(user=validated_data['created_by'], space=validated_data['space'])
             SLR.create(mealplan=mealplan, servings=validated_data['servings'])
         return mealplan