diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Entity/FieldInstanceConfig.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Entity/FieldInstanceConfig.php
index 6024061e680..e61896a28b4 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Entity/FieldInstanceConfig.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Entity/FieldInstanceConfig.php
@@ -240,8 +240,10 @@ class FieldInstanceConfig extends ConfigEntityBase implements FieldInstanceConfi
    */
   public function __construct(array $values, $entity_type = 'field_instance_config') {
     // Field instances configuration is stored with a 'field_uuid' property
-    // unambiguously identifying the field.
-    if (isset($values['field_uuid'])) {
+    // unambiguously identifying the field. We only take it into account if a
+    // 'uuid' entry is present too, so that leftover 'field_uuid' entries
+    // present in config files imported as "default module config" are ignored.
+    if (isset($values['field_uuid']) && isset($values['uuid'])) {
       $field = field_info_field_by_id($values['field_uuid']);
       if (!$field) {
         throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create an instance of unknown field @uuid', array('@uuid' => $values['field_uuid'])));