diff --git a/question/type/essay/db/upgrade.php b/question/type/essay/db/upgrade.php
index 69ecb56333c..6f3a66f2e5a 100644
--- a/question/type/essay/db/upgrade.php
+++ b/question/type/essay/db/upgrade.php
@@ -107,6 +107,15 @@ function xmldb_qtype_essay_upgrade($oldversion) {
     // Moodle v2.4.0 release upgrade line
     // Put any upgrade step following this
 
+    if ($oldversion < 2013011800) {
+        // Then we delete the old question_answers rows for essay questions.
+        $DB->delete_records_select('qtype_essay_options', "NOT EXISTS (
+                SELECT 1 FROM {question} WHERE qtype = 'essay' AND
+                    {question}.id = {qtype_essay_options}.questionid)");
+
+        // Essay savepoint reached.
+        upgrade_plugin_savepoint(true, 2013011800, 'qtype', 'essay');
+    }
 
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/question/type/essay/version.php b/question/type/essay/version.php
index 997941cb060..67a0d8e1d57 100644
--- a/question/type/essay/version.php
+++ b/question/type/essay/version.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
 
 $plugin->component = 'qtype_essay';
-$plugin->version   = 2012112900;
+$plugin->version   = 2013011800;
 
 $plugin->requires  = 2012112900;