diff --git a/ietf/group/forms.py b/ietf/group/forms.py
index 8e6aab106..1cbc56ee8 100644
--- a/ietf/group/forms.py
+++ b/ietf/group/forms.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals, print_function
 # Stdlib imports
 import re
 
+import debug      # pyflakes:ignore
+
 # Django imports
 from django import forms
 from django.utils.html import mark_safe
@@ -200,7 +202,7 @@ class GroupForm(forms.Form):
         cleaned_data = super(GroupForm, self).clean()
         state = cleaned_data.get('state', None)
         parent = cleaned_data.get('parent', None)
-        if state and (state.slug in ['bof', ] and not parent):
+        if state and (state.slug in ['bof', ] and 'parent' in self.fields and not parent):
             raise forms.ValidationError("You requested the creation of a BoF, but specified no parent area.  A parent is required when creating a bof.")
         return cleaned_data