diff --git a/question/type/match/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_match_plugin.class.php b/question/type/match/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_match_plugin.class.php
index e40bea47d3c..f9dc84bf59a 100644
--- a/question/type/match/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_match_plugin.class.php
+++ b/question/type/match/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_match_plugin.class.php
@@ -104,8 +104,13 @@ class restore_qtype_match_plugin extends restore_qtype_plugin {
 
             // Adjust some columns.
             $data->questionid = $newquestionid;
-            $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_match_options', $data);
-            $this->set_mapping('qtype_match_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+
+            // It is possible for old backup files to contain unique key violations.
+            // We need to check to avoid that.
+            if (!$DB->record_exists('qtype_match_options', array('questionid' => $data->questionid))) {
+                $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_match_options', $data);
+                $this->set_mapping('qtype_match_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/question/type/multichoice/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin.class.php b/question/type/multichoice/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin.class.php
index cceada35aa1..7ef6ab68ec7 100644
--- a/question/type/multichoice/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin.class.php
+++ b/question/type/multichoice/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin.class.php
@@ -70,12 +70,14 @@ class restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin extends restore_qtype_plugin {
         // If the question has been created by restore, we need to create its
         // qtype_multichoice_options too.
         if ($questioncreated) {
-            // Adjust some columns.
             $data->questionid = $newquestionid;
-            // Insert record.
-            $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_multichoice_options', $data);
-            // Create mapping (needed for decoding links).
-            $this->set_mapping('qtype_multichoice_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+
+            // It is possible for old backup files to contain unique key violations.
+            // We need to check to avoid that.
+            if (!$DB->record_exists('qtype_multichoice_options', array('questionid' => $data->questionid))) {
+                $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_multichoice_options', $data);
+                $this->set_mapping('qtype_multichoice_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/question/type/randomsamatch/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_randomsamatch_plugin.class.php b/question/type/randomsamatch/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_randomsamatch_plugin.class.php
index a86e0e3b528..b561a3acca0 100644
--- a/question/type/randomsamatch/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_randomsamatch_plugin.class.php
+++ b/question/type/randomsamatch/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_randomsamatch_plugin.class.php
@@ -86,12 +86,14 @@ class restore_qtype_randomsamatch_plugin extends restore_qtype_plugin {
             if (!isset($data->shownumcorrect)) {
                 $data->shownumcorrect = 0;
             }
-            // Adjust some columns.
             $data->questionid = $newquestionid;
-            // Insert record.
-            $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_randomsamatch_options', $data);
-            // Create mapping.
-            $this->set_mapping('qtype_randomsamatch_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+
+            // It is possible for old backup files to contain unique key violations.
+            // We need to check to avoid that.
+            if (!$DB->record_exists('qtype_randomsamatch_options', array('questionid' => $data->questionid))) {
+                $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_randomsamatch_options', $data);
+                $this->set_mapping('qtype_randomsamatch_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/question/type/shortanswer/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_shortanswer_plugin.class.php b/question/type/shortanswer/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_shortanswer_plugin.class.php
index c74178b3133..1ec39417f82 100644
--- a/question/type/shortanswer/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_shortanswer_plugin.class.php
+++ b/question/type/shortanswer/backup/moodle2/restore_qtype_shortanswer_plugin.class.php
@@ -71,8 +71,13 @@ class restore_qtype_shortanswer_plugin extends restore_qtype_plugin {
         // qtype_shortanswer_options too, if they are defined (the gui should ensure this).
         if ($questioncreated) {
             $data->questionid = $newquestionid;
-            $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_shortanswer_options', $data);
-            $this->set_mapping('qtype_shortanswer_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+
+            // It is possible for old backup files to contain unique key violations.
+            // We need to check to avoid that.
+            if (!$DB->record_exists('qtype_shortanswer_options', array('questionid' => $data->questionid))) {
+                $newitemid = $DB->insert_record('qtype_shortanswer_options', $data);
+                $this->set_mapping('qtype_shortanswer_options', $oldid, $newitemid);
+            }
         }
     }
 }