diff --git a/addons/product/models/product_template.py b/addons/product/models/product_template.py
index 356f509ea4a..e4c8c5838b0 100644
--- a/addons/product/models/product_template.py
+++ b/addons/product/models/product_template.py
@@ -212,8 +212,13 @@ class ProductTemplate(models.Model):
             (field name must be identical between product.product & product.template models)
         """
         for template in self:
-            if len(template.product_variant_ids) == 1:
+            count = len(template.product_variant_ids)
+            if count == 1:
                 template.product_variant_ids[fname] = template[fname]
+            elif count == 0:
+                archived_variants = self.with_context(active_test=False).product_variant_ids
+                if len(archived_variants) == 1:
+                    archived_variants[fname] = template[fname]
 
     @api.depends_context('company')
     @api.depends('product_variant_ids.standard_price')
diff --git a/addons/product/tests/test_variants.py b/addons/product/tests/test_variants.py
index 62348b259f2..095e9eebe78 100644
--- a/addons/product/tests/test_variants.py
+++ b/addons/product/tests/test_variants.py
@@ -1186,6 +1186,19 @@ class TestVariantsArchive(ProductVariantsCommon):
 
         Product._revert_method('unlink')
 
+    def test_set_barcode(self):
+        tmpl = self.product.product_tmpl_id
+        tmpl.barcode = '123'
+        self.assertEqual(tmpl.barcode, '123')
+        self.assertEqual(self.product.barcode, '123')
+
+        tmpl.toggle_active()
+
+        tmpl.barcode = '456'
+        tmpl.invalidate_recordset(fnames=['barcode'])
+        self.assertEqual(tmpl.barcode, '456')
+        self.assertEqual(self.product.barcode, '456')
+
     def _update_color_vars(self, ptal):
         self.ptal_color = ptal
         self.assertEqual(self.ptal_color.attribute_id, self.color_attribute)