diff --git a/docs/release-notes/version-3.1.md b/docs/release-notes/version-3.1.md
index f444b74bf..b530c269a 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/version-3.1.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes/version-3.1.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 * [#8710](https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/issues/8710) - Fix dynamic scope selection form fields when creating a VLAN group
 * [#8713](https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/issues/8713) - Restore missing "add" button on services list view
 * [#8717](https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/issues/8717) - Fix redirection after bulk edit/delete of prefixes from aggregate view
+* [#8724](https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/issues/8724) - Fix exception during device import with invalid device type
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/netbox/dcim/models/devices.py b/netbox/dcim/models/devices.py
index a2ae20319..6b8ff043d 100644
--- a/netbox/dcim/models/devices.py
+++ b/netbox/dcim/models/devices.py
@@ -670,10 +670,11 @@ class Device(PrimaryModel, ConfigContextModel):
             })
 
         # Prevent 0U devices from being assigned to a specific position
-        if self.position and self.device_type.u_height == 0:
-            raise ValidationError({
-                'position': f"A U0 device type ({self.device_type}) cannot be assigned to a rack position."
-            })
+        if hasattr(self, 'device_type'):
+            if self.position and self.device_type.u_height == 0:
+                raise ValidationError({
+                    'position': f"A U0 device type ({self.device_type}) cannot be assigned to a rack position."
+                })
 
         if self.rack: