diff --git a/python/educational-core/student/src/com/jetbrains/edu/learning/StudySerializationUtils.java b/python/educational-core/student/src/com/jetbrains/edu/learning/StudySerializationUtils.java
index c7cb4f83c86a..076d3ef73b76 100644
--- a/python/educational-core/student/src/com/jetbrains/edu/learning/StudySerializationUtils.java
+++ b/python/educational-core/student/src/com/jetbrains/edu/learning/StudySerializationUtils.java
@@ -429,7 +429,9 @@ public class StudySerializationUtils {
               JsonArray placeholders = taskFileObject.getAsJsonArray(PLACEHOLDERS);
               for (JsonElement placeholder : placeholders) {
                 convertToAbsoluteOffset(document, placeholder);
-                convertToSubtaskInfo(placeholder.getAsJsonObject());
+                if (placeholder.getAsJsonObject().getAsJsonObject(SUBTASK_INFOS) == null) {
+                  convertToSubtaskInfo(placeholder.getAsJsonObject());
+                }
               }
             }
           }