diff --git a/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/__tests__/excel.parser.test.ts b/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/__tests__/excel.parser.test.ts
index 35251abcd..0cf11ae88 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/__tests__/excel.parser.test.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/__tests__/excel.parser.test.ts
@@ -13,21 +13,27 @@ describe('parseExcel()', () => {
     expect(result.rundown.flatOrder.length).toBe(14);
     expect(result.rundown.order.length).toBe(4);
 
-    const firstEvent = result.rundown.entries[result.rundown.flatOrder[2]];
+    const firstEventId = result.rundown.flatOrder[2];
+    const firstEvent = result.rundown.entries[firstEventId];
     expect(firstEvent).toMatchObject({
+      id: firstEventId,
       type: SupportedEntry.Event,
       title: 'Pre-show Countdown',
     });
     expect(millisToString((firstEvent as OntimeEvent).timeStart)).toBe('10:00:00');
 
-    const lastEvent = result.rundown.entries[result.rundown.flatOrder[12]];
+    const lastEventId = result.rundown.flatOrder[12];
+    const lastEvent = result.rundown.entries[lastEventId];
     expect(lastEvent).toMatchObject({
+      id: lastEventId,
       type: SupportedEntry.Event,
       title: 'Wrap up',
     });
+
     // the excel step does not relate elements yet
     expect(millisToString((lastEvent as OntimeEvent).timeEnd)).toBe('00:00:00');
   });
+
   it('parses an import map with only custom fields', () => {
     // partial import map with only custom fields
     const importMap = {
diff --git a/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/excel.parser.ts b/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/excel.parser.ts
index e85d770e1..52c978cad 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/excel.parser.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/api-data/excel/excel.parser.ts
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ export const parseExcel = (
     // from excel, we can only get groups, milestones and events
     if (isOntimeGroup(entry as OntimeEntry)) {
       const group = {
+        id, // will be replaced by a potentially user given ID
         ...entry,
         targetDuration: entry.duration ? entry.duration : null,
         custom: { ...entryCustomFields },
@@ -200,7 +201,11 @@ export const parseExcel = (
     }
 
     if (isOntimeMilestone(entry as OntimeEntry)) {
-      const milestone = { ...entry, custom: { ...entryCustomFields } } as OntimeMilestone;
+      const milestone = {
+        id, // will be replaced by a potentially user given ID
+        ...entry,
+        custom: { ...entryCustomFields },
+      } as OntimeMilestone;
       if (currentGroupId) {
         groupEntries.push(id);
         milestone.parent = currentGroupId;
@@ -214,6 +219,7 @@ export const parseExcel = (
 
     // after group and milestones we only have events remaining
     const event = {
+      id, // will be replaced by a potentially user given ID
       ...entry,
       custom: { ...entryCustomFields },
       type: SupportedEntry.Event,