diff --git a/common/database_instances.cpp b/common/database_instances.cpp
index f0bdda42e..0949a6708 100644
--- a/common/database_instances.cpp
+++ b/common/database_instances.cpp
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ void Database::DeleteInstance(uint16 instance_id)
 	query = fmt::format("DELETE FROM dynamic_zones WHERE instance_id={}", instance_id);
 	QueryDatabase(query);
 
-	query = fmt::format("DELETE FROM expedition_details WHERE instance_id={}", instance_id);
+	query = fmt::format("UPDATE expedition_details SET instance_id = NULL WHERE instance_id={}", instance_id);
 	QueryDatabase(query);
 
 	BuryCorpsesInInstance(instance_id);
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ void Database::PurgeExpiredInstances()
 	QueryDatabase(fmt::format("DELETE FROM spawn_condition_values WHERE instance_id IN ({})", imploded_instance_ids));
 	QueryDatabase(fmt::format("UPDATE character_corpses SET is_buried = 1, instance_id = 0 WHERE instance_id IN ({})", imploded_instance_ids));
 	QueryDatabase(fmt::format("DELETE FROM dynamic_zones WHERE instance_id IN ({})", imploded_instance_ids));
-	QueryDatabase(fmt::format("DELETE FROM expedition_details WHERE instance_id IN ({})", imploded_instance_ids));
+	QueryDatabase(fmt::format("UPDATE expedition_details SET instance_id = NULL WHERE instance_id IN ({})", imploded_instance_ids));
 }
 
 void Database::SetInstanceDuration(uint16 instance_id, uint32 new_duration)
diff --git a/utils/sql/git/required/wip_expeditions.sql b/utils/sql/git/required/wip_expeditions.sql
index 971880e37..fe92bb2b4 100644
--- a/utils/sql/git/required/wip_expeditions.sql
+++ b/utils/sql/git/required/wip_expeditions.sql
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 CREATE TABLE `expedition_details` (
 	`id` INT(10) UNSIGNED NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
 	`uuid` VARCHAR(36) NOT NULL,
-	`instance_id` INT(10) NOT NULL,
+	`instance_id` INT(10) NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`expedition_name` VARCHAR(128) NOT NULL,
 	`leader_id` INT(10) UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`min_players` TINYINT(3) UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,