diff --git a/src/services/import/tar.js b/src/services/import/tar.js
index 26045c77b..6f999281b 100644
--- a/src/services/import/tar.js
+++ b/src/services/import/tar.js
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ async function importTar(fileBuffer, parentNote) {
             return "";
         }
 
+        // we allow references to root and they don't need translation
+        if (origNoteId === 'root') {
+            return origNoteId;
+        }
+
         if (!ctx.noteIdMap[origNoteId]) {
             ctx.noteIdMap[origNoteId] = utils.newEntityId();
         }