diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index a9d4bd435965e..4487126aa3358 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -271,6 +271,7 @@ answer newbie questions, and generally made Django that much better:
     Erik Karulf <erik@karulf.com>
     Erik Romijn <django@solidlinks.nl>
     eriks@win.tue.nl
+    Erwin Junge <erwin@junge.nl>
     Esdras Beleza <linux@esdrasbeleza.com>
     Espen Grindhaug <http://grindhaug.org/>
     Eugene Lazutkin <http://lazutkin.com/blog/>
@@ -744,6 +745,7 @@ answer newbie questions, and generally made Django that much better:
     Robert Wittams
     Rob Golding-Day <rob@golding-day.com>
     Rob Hudson <https://rob.cogit8.org/>
+    Rob Nguyen <tienrobertnguyenn@gmail.com>
     Robin Munn <http://www.geekforgod.com/>
     Rodrigo Pinheiro Marques de Araújo <fenrrir@gmail.com>
     Romain Garrigues <romain.garrigues.cs@gmail.com>
diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index eeb5163b9623f..1be910115f702 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -684,14 +684,19 @@ def save(self, force_insert=False, force_update=False, using=None,
                 # database to raise an IntegrityError if applicable. If
                 # constraints aren't supported by the database, there's the
                 # unavoidable risk of data corruption.
-                if obj and obj.pk is None:
-                    # Remove the object from a related instance cache.
-                    if not field.remote_field.multiple:
-                        field.remote_field.delete_cached_value(obj)
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        "save() prohibited to prevent data loss due to "
-                        "unsaved related object '%s'." % field.name
-                    )
+                if obj:
+                    if obj.pk is None:
+                        # Remove the object from a related instance cache.
+                        if not field.remote_field.multiple:
+                            field.remote_field.delete_cached_value(obj)
+                        raise ValueError(
+                            "save() prohibited to prevent data loss due to "
+                            "unsaved related object '%s'." % field.name
+                        )
+                    elif getattr(self, field.attname) is None:
+                        # Use pk from related object if it has been saved after
+                        # the original assignment
+                        setattr(self, field.attname, obj.pk)
                 # If the relationship's pk/to_field was changed, clear the
                 # cached relationship.
                 if obj and getattr(obj, field.target_field.attname) != getattr(self, field.attname):
diff --git a/django/db/models/fields/related.py b/django/db/models/fields/related.py
index 276bcb11ff5bf..7bef2f0abad48 100644
--- a/django/db/models/fields/related.py
+++ b/django/db/models/fields/related.py
@@ -1031,6 +1031,10 @@ def save_form_data(self, instance, data):
             setattr(instance, self.name, data)
         else:
             setattr(instance, self.attname, data)
+            # remote field object must be cleared otherwise Model.save()
+            # will reassign attname using the related object pk
+            if data is None:
+                setattr(instance, self.name, data)
 
     def _check_unique(self, **kwargs):
         # Override ForeignKey since check isn't applicable here.
diff --git a/tests/many_to_one/models.py b/tests/many_to_one/models.py
index 96b84ccddb9f8..efb3f220fde66 100644
--- a/tests/many_to_one/models.py
+++ b/tests/many_to_one/models.py
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ class ToFieldChild(models.Model):
     parent = models.ForeignKey(Parent, models.CASCADE, to_field='name', related_name='to_field_children')
 
 
+class ChildNullableParent(models.Model):
+    parent = models.ForeignKey(Parent, models.CASCADE, null=True)
+
+
 # Multiple paths to the same model (#7110, #7125)
 class Category(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=20)
diff --git a/tests/many_to_one/tests.py b/tests/many_to_one/tests.py
index a949606cdfcb7..4d4ccb554a7d3 100644
--- a/tests/many_to_one/tests.py
+++ b/tests/many_to_one/tests.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy
 
 from .models import (
-    Article, Category, Child, City, District, First, Parent, Record, Relation,
-    Reporter, School, Student, Third, ToFieldChild,
+    Article, Category, Child, ChildNullableParent, City, District, First,
+    Parent, Record, Relation, Reporter, School, Student, Third, ToFieldChild,
 )
 
 
@@ -522,6 +522,14 @@ def test_fk_assignment_and_related_object_cache(self):
         self.assertIsNot(c.parent, p)
         self.assertEqual(c.parent, p)
 
+    def test_save_nullable_parent_then_child(self):
+        parent = Parent()
+        child = ChildNullableParent(parent=parent)
+        parent.save()
+        child.save()
+        child.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(child.parent, parent)
+
     def test_save_nullable_parent_then_child_to_field(self):
         parent_id = "jeff"
         parent = Parent(name=parent_id)