diff --git a/config/file_upload_settings.php b/config/file_upload_settings.php
index 2b08d42..ade4420 100644
--- a/config/file_upload_settings.php
+++ b/config/file_upload_settings.php
@@ -187,7 +187,14 @@ class FileUploadSettings {
       *  'fileNameFunction' => 'md5'
       *  'fileNameFunction' => 'crc32'
       */
-    'fileNameFunction' => false
+    'fileNameFunction' => false,
+
+	/**
+	* To allow Model to be saved without the file fields if no file is uploaded.
+	*
+	* For use when using FileUpload directly on an existing Model.
+	*/
+	'allowEmpty' => false
   );
 
 }
diff --git a/models/behaviors/file_upload.php b/models/behaviors/file_upload.php
index 2fced9f..8c7c346 100644
--- a/models/behaviors/file_upload.php
+++ b/models/behaviors/file_upload.php
@@ -76,7 +76,12 @@ function beforeSave(&$Model){
         unset($Model->data[$Model->alias][$this->options[$Model->alias]['fileVar']]);
       }
       else {
-        unset($Model->data[$Model->alias]);
+	if ($this->options[$Model->alias]['allowEmpty']) {
+	  //unset only the file portion of the model so that the rest fo the model's data will be saved
+	  unset($Model->data[$Model->alias]['file']);
+	} else {
+	  unset($Model->data[$Model->alias]);
+	}
       }
     }
     return $Model->beforeSave();