diff --git a/combo/manager/views.py b/combo/manager/views.py
index ef54aec9..2e4f0b7e 100644
--- a/combo/manager/views.py
+++ b/combo/manager/views.py
@@ -244,7 +244,12 @@ def cell_order(request, page_pk):
         old_order = cell.order
         old_placeholder = cell.placeholder
         key_suffix = cell.get_reference()
-        new_order = int(request.GET.get('pos_' + key_suffix))
+        try:
+            new_order = int(request.GET.get('pos_' + key_suffix))
+        except TypeError:
+            # the cell is not present in the query string, most probably
+            # because it's in a different placeholder
+            continue
         new_placeholder = request.GET.get('ph_' + key_suffix)
         if new_order != old_order or new_placeholder != old_placeholder:
             cell.order = new_order