diff --git a/parsers/survex.py b/parsers/survex.py
index 69fd8cf..ffced3d 100644
--- a/parsers/survex.py
+++ b/parsers/survex.py
@@ -2652,10 +2652,20 @@ def parse_one_file(fpath): # --------------------------------------in progress--
         """
         cave = find_cave_from_path(svxpath) 
         if cave:
-            cave_svxpath = cave.survex_file[:-4] # remove .svx
-            fileroot = SurvexFile.objects.get(path=cave_svxpath)
-            print(f"  - Setting the root survexfile for this import: {svxpath} to be that for cave {cave}")
+            if cave.survex_file: # i.e. cave has been fully created and has a value for this
+                cave_svxpath = cave.survex_file[:-4] # remove .svx
+            else:
+                cave.survex_file = svxpath + ".svx"
+                save(cave)
+                cave_svxpath = svxpath
+            try:
+                fileroot = SurvexFile.objects.get(path=cave_svxpath)
+            except:
+                fileroot = SurvexFile.objects.create(path=cave_svxpath, cave=cave)
+                print(f"  !! - No SurvexFile object found for {svxpath=}, making a new one..")
+            print(f"  - Setting the root survexfile for this import: {svxpath} to be that for cave {cave} {cave.survex_file=}")
             return fileroot
+            
 
         # make a dummy SurvexFile object, which will be removed later
         dummyroot = SurvexFile(path=svxpath)