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 7ef6ab68ec7..71120c4fec0 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
@@ -160,4 +160,19 @@ class restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin extends restore_qtype_plugin {
 
         return $contents;
     }
+
+    #[\Override]
+    public static function convert_backup_to_questiondata(array $backupdata): \stdClass {
+        global $CFG;
+        require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/question/type/multichoice/questiontype.php');
+        $questiondata = parent::convert_backup_to_questiondata($backupdata);
+        if (count(get_object_vars($questiondata->options)) <= 1) {
+            // Historically, old versions of multichoice subquestions had their options record deleted.
+            // As qtype_multichoice::get_question_options() sets default options in this case, we need
+            // to do the same here. See MDL-85721.
+            $defaultoptions = (new qtype_multichoice())->create_default_options($questiondata);
+            $questiondata->options = (object) array_merge((array) $questiondata->options, (array) $defaultoptions);
+        }
+        return $questiondata;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/question/type/multichoice/questiontype.php b/question/type/multichoice/questiontype.php
index b1d1b4ff0cf..59627b2d73a 100644
--- a/question/type/multichoice/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/multichoice/questiontype.php
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class qtype_multichoice extends question_type {
      * @param object $question The queston we are working with.
      * @return object The options object.
      */
-    protected function create_default_options($question) {
+    public function create_default_options($question) {
         // Create a default question options record.
         $options = new stdClass();
         $options->questionid = $question->id;
diff --git a/question/type/multichoice/tests/restore_test.php b/question/type/multichoice/tests/restore_test.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7c981323a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/question/type/multichoice/tests/restore_test.php
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+<?php
+// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
+//
+// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+namespace qtype_multichoice;
+
+/**
+ * Unit tests for restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin
+ *
+ * @package   qtype_multichoice
+ * @copyright 2025 onwards Catalyst IT EU {@link https://catalyst-eu.net}
+ * @author    Mark Johnson <mark.johnson@catalyst-eu.net>
+ * @license   http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ * @covers \restore_qtype_multichoice_plugin
+ */
+final class restore_test extends \advanced_testcase {
+    /**
+     * Duplicate a quiz containing a multichoice question with no options record.
+     */
+    public function test_restore_quiz_with_edited_questions(): void {
+        global $CFG, $DB, $USER;
+        require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/backup/util/includes/backup_includes.php');
+        require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/backup/util/includes/restore_includes.php');
+        $this->resetAfterTest();
+        $this->setAdminUser();
+
+        // Create a course and a user with editing teacher capabilities.
+        $generator = $this->getDataGenerator();
+        $course1 = $generator->create_course();
+        $context = \context_course::instance($course1->id);
+        $questiongenerator = $this->getDataGenerator()->get_plugin_generator('core_question');
+        $initialcount = $DB->count_records('question');
+
+        // Create a question category.
+        $cat = $questiongenerator->create_question_category(['contextid' => $context->id]);
+
+        // Create a quiz containing a multichoice question from the qbank.
+        $quiz = $this->getDataGenerator()->get_plugin_generator('mod_quiz')->create_instance(['course' => $course1->id]);
+        $question = $questiongenerator->create_question('multichoice', 'one_of_four', ['category' => $cat->id]);
+        quiz_add_quiz_question($question->id, $quiz);
+
+        // Delete the multichoice_options record.
+        $DB->delete_records('qtype_multichoice_options', ['questionid' => $question->id]);
+
+        // Confirm we have created 1 additional question.
+        $this->assertEquals($initialcount + 1, $DB->count_records('question'));
+
+        // Backup quiz.
+        $bc = new \backup_controller(\backup::TYPE_1ACTIVITY, $quiz->cmid, \backup::FORMAT_MOODLE,
+            \backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, \backup::MODE_IMPORT, $USER->id);
+        $backupid = $bc->get_backupid();
+        $bc->execute_plan();
+        $bc->destroy();
+
+        // Restore the backup into the same course.
+        $rc = new \restore_controller($backupid, $course1->id, \backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, \backup::MODE_IMPORT,
+            $USER->id, \backup::TARGET_CURRENT_ADDING);
+        $rc->execute_precheck();
+        $rc->execute_plan();
+        $rc->destroy();
+        $this->assertDebuggingCalled();
+
+        // Both quizzes should refer to the same original question.
+        $quizzes = get_fast_modinfo($course1->id)->get_instances_of('quiz');
+        $this->assertCount(2, $quizzes);
+        foreach ($quizzes as $quiz) {
+            $structure = \mod_quiz\question\bank\qbank_helper::get_question_structure($quiz->instance, $quiz->context);
+            $this->assertEquals($structure[1]->questionid, $question->id);
+        }
+
+        // There should be no additional questions created during the restore.
+        $this->assertEquals($initialcount + 1, $DB->count_records('question'));
+    }
+}