diff --git a/openupgrade_scripts/scripts/stock_account/19.0.1.1/end-migration.py b/openupgrade_scripts/scripts/stock_account/19.0.1.1/end-migration.py
index 52f1ce0de916..639ea2420fdf 100644
--- a/openupgrade_scripts/scripts/stock_account/19.0.1.1/end-migration.py
+++ b/openupgrade_scripts/scripts/stock_account/19.0.1.1/end-migration.py
@@ -47,12 +47,15 @@ def ref_or_id(ref_or_id, model_name, AccountChartTemplate=AccountChartTemplate):
         for model_name, field_names in spec.items():
             filtered_records = {}
             for record_id, record_data in template_data[model_name].items():
-                if not any(record_data.get(key) for key in field_names):
+                record = ref_or_id(record_id, model_name)
+                if not record or not any(record_data.get(key) for key in field_names):
+                    # record doesn't exist yet in this company's chart;
+                    # don't partially-create it here, only backfill existing ones
                     continue
                 filtered = {
                     key: value
                     for key, value in record_data.items()
-                    if key in field_names and not ref_or_id(record_id, model_name)[key]
+                    if key in field_names and not record[key]
                 }
                 if filtered:
                     filtered_records[record_id] = filtered