diff --git a/application/Espo/Core/Utils/FieldManager.php b/application/Espo/Core/Utils/FieldManager.php
index 4c544f7927..23b9544197 100644
--- a/application/Espo/Core/Utils/FieldManager.php
+++ b/application/Espo/Core/Utils/FieldManager.php
@@ -187,11 +187,6 @@ class FieldManager
             }
         }
 
-        if (isset($fieldDef['linkDefs'])) {
-            $linkDefs = $fieldDef['linkDefs'];
-            unset($fieldDef['linkDefs']);
-        }
-
         $currentOptionList = array_keys((array) $this->getFieldDef($name, $scope));
         foreach ($fieldDef as $defName => $defValue) {
             if ( (!isset($defValue) || $defValue === '') && !in_array($defName, $currentOptionList) ) {
@@ -219,6 +214,11 @@ class FieldManager
             $fieldDef = Util::merge($metaFieldDef, $fieldDef);
         }
 
+        if (isset($fieldDef['linkDefs'])) {
+            $linkDefs = $fieldDef['linkDefs'];
+            unset($fieldDef['linkDefs']);
+        }
+
         $defs = array(
             'fields' => array(
                 $fieldName => $fieldDef,