diff --git a/api/src/State/ContentNode/ChecklistNodePersistProcessor.php b/api/src/State/ContentNode/ChecklistNodePersistProcessor.php
index b138cf7b73f..9e064c63937 100644
--- a/api/src/State/ContentNode/ChecklistNodePersistProcessor.php
+++ b/api/src/State/ContentNode/ChecklistNodePersistProcessor.php
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ public function onBefore($data, Operation $operation, array $uriVariables = [],
         if (null !== $data->removeChecklistItemIds) {
             foreach ($data->removeChecklistItemIds as $checklistItemId) {
                 $checklistItem = $this->checklistItemRepository->find($checklistItemId);
-                $data->removeChecklistItem($checklistItem);
+                if (null != $checklistItem) {
+                    $data->removeChecklistItem($checklistItem);
+                }
             }
         }