diff --git a/tailbone/forms/fields.py b/tailbone/forms/fields.py
index c052745a..17ea4d45 100644
--- a/tailbone/forms/fields.py
+++ b/tailbone/forms/fields.py
@@ -72,9 +72,12 @@ class DefaultEmailField(fa.Field):
             address = self._deserialize()
             contact = self.parent.model
             if contact.emails:
-                email = contact.emails[0]
-                email.address = address
-            else:
+                if address:
+                    email = contact.emails[0]
+                    email.address = address
+                else:
+                    contact.emails.pop(0)
+            elif address:
                 email = contact.add_email_address(address)
 
 
@@ -96,7 +99,10 @@ class DefaultPhoneField(fa.Field):
             number = self._deserialize()
             contact = self.parent.model
             if contact.phones:
-                phone = contact.phones[0]
-                phone.number = number
-            else:
+                if number:
+                    phone = contact.phones[0]
+                    phone.number = number
+                else:
+                    contact.phones.pop(0)
+            elif number:
                 phone = contact.add_phone_number(number)