diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java
index 73765d43d..09851725f 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ public class BeanPropertyAssocMany<T> extends BeanPropertyAssoc<T> implements ST
    */
   @Override
   public void addBeanToCollectionWithCreate(EntityBean parentBean, EntityBean detailBean, boolean withCheck) {
-    BeanCollection<?> bc = (BeanCollection<?>) super.getValue(parentBean);
+    BeanCollection<?> bc = beanCollection(parentBean);
     if (bc == null) {
       bc = help.createEmpty(parentBean);
       setValue(parentBean, bc);
@@ -234,6 +234,15 @@ public class BeanPropertyAssocMany<T> extends BeanPropertyAssoc<T> implements ST
     help.add(bc, detailBean, withCheck);
   }
 
+  private BeanCollection<?> beanCollection(EntityBean parentBean) {
+    try {
+      return (BeanCollection<?>) super.getValue(parentBean);
+    } catch (ClassCastException e) {
+      // fetching element collection, ok for now
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Return true if this is considered 'empty' from a save perspective.
    */