diff --git a/src/SaveRelationsBehavior.php b/src/SaveRelationsBehavior.php
index e580be1..88adca3 100644
--- a/src/SaveRelationsBehavior.php
+++ b/src/SaveRelationsBehavior.php
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ class SaveRelationsBehavior extends Behavior
             } else {
                 $existingRecords[] = $relationModel;
             }
-            if (count($relationModel->dirtyAttributes)) {
+            if (count($relationModel->dirtyAttributes) || count($this->_newRelationValue)) {
                 if ($relationModel->validate()) {
                     $relationModel->save();
                 } else {