diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/models/ir_fields.py b/odoo/addons/base/models/ir_fields.py
index 04c23ae1020..da654a42e09 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/models/ir_fields.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/models/ir_fields.py
@@ -416,6 +416,10 @@ class IrFieldsConverter(models.AbstractModel):
         id, _, w2 = self.db_id_for(model, field, subfield, record[subfield])
         return id, w1 + w2
 
+    @api.model
+    def _str_to_many2one_reference(self, model, field, value):
+        return self._str_to_integer(model, field, value)
+
     @api.model
     def _str_to_many2many(self, model, field, value):
         [record] = value