diff --git a/party.py b/party.py
index e8af125e35..69b5e766c4 100644
--- a/party.py
+++ b/party.py
@@ -295,18 +295,20 @@ class PartyIdentifier(ModelSQL, ModelView):
                 pass
         return self.code
 
-    @classmethod
-    def validate(cls, identifiers):
-        super(PartyIdentifier, cls).validate(identifiers)
-        for identifier in identifiers:
-            identifier.check_code()
+    def pre_validate(self):
+        super(PartyIdentifier, self).pre_validate()
+        self.check_code()
 
     def check_code(self):
         if self.type == 'eu_vat':
             if not vat.is_valid(self.code):
+                if self.party.id > 0:
+                    party = self.party.rec_name
+                else:
+                    party = ''
                 self.raise_user_error('invalid_vat', {
                         'code': self.code,
-                        'party': self.party.rec_name,
+                        'party': party,
                         })
 
 
diff --git a/view/party_form.xml b/view/party_form.xml
index 2410fa68d8..241228ba40 100644
--- a/view/party_form.xml
+++ b/view/party_form.xml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ this repository contains the full copyright notices and license terms. -->
                 view_ids="party.category_view_list"/>
         </page>
         <page name="identifiers">
-            <field name="identifiers" colspan="4"/>
+            <field name="identifiers" colspan="4" pre_validate="1"/>
         </page>
     </notebook>
 </form>