diff --git a/specifyweb/specify/migration_utils/operations.py b/specifyweb/specify/migration_utils/operations.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7033b25e9e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specifyweb/specify/migration_utils/operations.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+from django.db import migrations
+
+
+class AddFieldIfMissing(migrations.AddField):
+    """
+    Guard against schema drift where the column already exists, but the migration is still recorded as unapplied.
+    """
+
+    def _column_exists(self, schema_editor, model, field):
+        with schema_editor.connection.cursor() as cursor:
+            cursor.execute(
+                """
+                SELECT 1
+                  FROM information_schema.columns
+                 WHERE table_schema = DATABASE()
+                   AND table_name = %s
+                   AND column_name = %s
+                """,
+                [model._meta.db_table, field.column],
+            )
+            return cursor.fetchone() is not None
+
+    def _ensure_foreign_key(self, schema_editor, model, field):
+        if not (
+            field.remote_field
+            and schema_editor.connection.features.supports_foreign_keys
+            and field.db_constraint
+        ):
+            return
+
+        if schema_editor._constraint_names(model, [field.column], foreign_key=True):
+            return
+
+        constraint_suffix = "_fk_%(to_table)s_%(to_column)s"
+        schema_editor.execute(
+            schema_editor._create_fk_sql(model, field, constraint_suffix)
+        )
+
+    def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
+        to_model = to_state.apps.get_model(app_label, self.model_name)
+        if not self.allow_migrate_model(schema_editor.connection.alias, to_model):
+            return
+
+        field = to_model._meta.get_field(self.name)
+        if self._column_exists(schema_editor, to_model, field):
+            self._ensure_foreign_key(schema_editor, to_model, field)
+            return
+
+        super().database_forwards(app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state)
+
+    def database_backwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
+        from_model = from_state.apps.get_model(app_label, self.model_name)
+        if not self.allow_migrate_model(schema_editor.connection.alias, from_model):
+            return
+
+        field = from_model._meta.get_field(self.name)
+        if not self._column_exists(schema_editor, from_model, field):
+            return
+
+        super().database_backwards(app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state)