diff --git a/ee/app/models/iterations/cadence.rb b/ee/app/models/iterations/cadence.rb
index 158c9ebf33fde9218c6840a40d6506105f1f64c7..82efd8de3a560232556bf326a6ae7d27f3b140a9 100644
--- a/ee/app/models/iterations/cadence.rb
+++ b/ee/app/models/iterations/cadence.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ module Iterations
   class Cadence < ApplicationRecord
     include Gitlab::SQL::Pattern
     include EachBatch
+    include Importable
 
     self.table_name = 'iterations_cadences'
 
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ class Cadence < ApplicationRecord
 
     validate :start_date_comes_later_than_current_iteration, if: -> { current_iteration && requires_new_automation_start_date? }
     validate :start_date_comes_later_than_past_iteration, if: -> { !current_iteration && requires_new_automation_start_date? }
-    validate :start_date_would_not_create_past_iteration, if: -> { !current_iteration && requires_new_automation_start_date? }
+    validate :start_date_would_not_create_past_iteration, if: -> { !importing && !current_iteration && requires_new_automation_start_date? }
 
     after_commit :ensure_iterations_in_advance, on: [:create, :update], if: :changed_iterations_automation_fields?