diff --git a/src/gridstack-engine.ts b/src/gridstack-engine.ts
index 02a7bf2f..b41a404b 100644
--- a/src/gridstack-engine.ts
+++ b/src/gridstack-engine.ts
@@ -417,14 +417,14 @@ export class GridStackEngine {
     // remember it's position & width so we can restore back (1 -> 12 column) #1655 #1985
     // IFF we're not in the middle of column resizing!
     const saveOrig = (node.x || 0) + (node.w || 1) > this.column;
-    if (saveOrig && this.column < this.defaultColumn && !this._inColumnResize && !this.skipCacheUpdate && node._id && this.findCacheLayout(node, this.defaultColumn) === -1) {
+    if (saveOrig && this.column < this.defaultColumn && !this._inColumnResize && !this.skipCacheUpdate && (node._id ?? false) && this.findCacheLayout(node, this.defaultColumn) === -1) {
       const copy = {...node}; // need _id + positions
       if (copy.autoPosition || copy.x === undefined) { delete copy.x; delete copy.y; }
       else copy.x = Math.min(this.defaultColumn - 1, copy.x);
       copy.w = Math.min(this.defaultColumn, copy.w || 1);
       this.cacheOneLayout(copy, this.defaultColumn);
     }
-
+    
     if (node.w > this.column) {
       node.w = this.column;
     } else if (node.w < 1) {