diff --git a/addons/base_sparse_field/models/models.py b/addons/base_sparse_field/models/models.py
index c47d17eb5a5..cc886e808d8 100644
--- a/addons/base_sparse_field/models/models.py
+++ b/addons/base_sparse_field/models/models.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class IrModelFields(models.Model):
 
     def _instanciate_attrs(self, field_data):
         attrs = super(IrModelFields, self)._instanciate_attrs(field_data)
-        if field_data.get('serialization_field_id'):
+        if attrs and field_data.get('serialization_field_id'):
             serialization_record = self.browse(field_data['serialization_field_id'])
             attrs['sparse'] = serialization_record.name
         return attrs
diff --git a/addons/mail/models/ir_model_fields.py b/addons/mail/models/ir_model_fields.py
index f7ace4f9509..bf9ff3e2de2 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/ir_model_fields.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/ir_model_fields.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class IrModelField(models.Model):
 
     def _instanciate_attrs(self, field_data):
         attrs = super(IrModelField, self)._instanciate_attrs(field_data)
-        if field_data.get('tracking'):
+        if attrs and field_data.get('tracking'):
             attrs['tracking'] = field_data['tracking']
         return attrs