diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js
index c2bd4f5d5b8..4cbbf498e82 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js
@@ -93,8 +93,12 @@ var FieldMany2One = AbstractField.extend({
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         this.limit = 7;
         this.orderer = new concurrency.DropMisordered();
-        this.can_create = ('can_create' in this.attrs ? this.attrs.can_create : true) && !this.nodeOptions.no_create;
-        this.can_write = 'can_write' in this.attrs ? this.attrs.can_write : true;
+
+        // should normally also be set, except in standalone M20
+        this.can_create = ('can_create' in this.attrs ? JSON.parse(this.attrs.can_create) : true) &&
+            !this.nodeOptions.no_create;
+        this.can_write = 'can_write' in this.attrs ? JSON.parse(this.attrs.can_write) : true;
+
         this.nodeOptions = _.defaults(this.nodeOptions, {
             quick_create: true,
         });
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
index 2020e0124f3..75ee8e8bf3e 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
@@ -1362,6 +1362,56 @@ QUnit.module('relational_fields', {
         form.destroy();
     });
 
+    QUnit.test('can_create and can_write option on a many2one', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(5);
+
+        this.data.product.options = {
+            can_create: "false",
+            can_write: "false",
+        };
+
+        var form = createView({
+            View: FormView,
+            model: 'partner',
+            data: this.data,
+            arch: '<form string="Partners">' +
+                        '<sheet>' +
+                            '<field name="product_id" can_create="false" can_write="false"/>' +
+                        '</sheet>' +
+                '</form>',
+            archs: {
+                'product,false,form': '<form string="Products"><field name="display_name"/></form>',
+            },
+            mockRPC: function (route) {
+                if (route === '/web/dataset/call_kw/product/get_formview_id') {
+                    return $.when(false);
+                }
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+
+        form.$('.o_field_many2one input').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.ui-autocomplete .o_m2o_dropdown_option:contains(Create)').length, 0,
+            "there shouldn't be any option to search and create");
+
+        $('.ui-autocomplete li:contains(xpad)').mouseenter().click();
+        assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_field_many2one input').val(), "xpad",
+            "the correct record should be selected");
+        assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_field_many2one .o_external_button').length, 1,
+            "there should be an external button displayed");
+
+        form.$('.o_field_many2one .o_external_button').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.modal .o_form_view.o_form_readonly').length, 1,
+            "there should be a readonly form view opened");
+
+        $('.modal .o_form_button_cancel').click();
+
+        form.$('.o_field_many2one input').val('new product').trigger('keyup').trigger('focusout');
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.modal').length, 0, "should not display the create modal");
+        form.destroy();
+    });
+
     QUnit.test('pressing enter in a m2o in an editable list', function (assert) {
         assert.expect(9);
         var done = assert.async();
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js b/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js
index eb78153265c..9523f8b0c0f 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@ var MockServer = Class.extend({
         var relModel, relFields;
         _.each(fieldNodes, function (node, name) {
             var field = fields[name];
+            if (field.type === "many2one" || field.type === "many2many") {
+                node.attrs.can_create = node.attrs.can_create || "true";
+                node.attrs.can_write = node.attrs.can_write || "true";
+            }
             if (field.type === "one2many" || field.type === "many2many") {
                 field.views = {};
                 _.each(node.children, function (children) {