diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/item_variant.py b/erpnext/controllers/item_variant.py
index 66b3dd0a94..f8c9c0a841 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/item_variant.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/item_variant.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def make_variant_item_code(template_item_code, variant):
 		item_attribute = frappe.db.sql("""select i.numeric_values, v.abbr
 			from `tabItem Attribute` i left join `tabItem Attribute Value` v
 				on (i.name=v.parent)
-			where i.name=%(attribute)s and v.attribute_value=%(attribute_value)s""", {
+			where i.name=%(attribute)s and (v.attribute_value=%(attribute_value)s or i.numeric_values = 1)""", {
 				"attribute": attr.attribute,
 				"attribute_value": attr.attribute_value
 			}, as_dict=True)
@@ -180,11 +180,8 @@ def make_variant_item_code(template_item_code, variant):
 			# 	frappe.bold(attr.attribute_value)), title=_('Invalid Attribute'),
 			# 	exc=InvalidItemAttributeValueError)
 
-		if item_attribute[0].numeric_values:
-			# don't generate item code if one of the attributes is numeric
-			return
-
-		abbreviations.append(item_attribute[0].abbr)
+		abbr_or_value = cstr(attr.attribute_value) if item_attribute[0].numeric_values else item_attribute[0].abbr
+		abbreviations.append(abbr_or_value)
 
 	if abbreviations:
 		variant.item_code = "{0}-{1}".format(template_item_code, "-".join(abbreviations))
diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.js b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.js
index 985bd4f950..abd03fe998 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.js
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.js
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ frappe.ui.form.on("Item", {
 			frm.set_intro(__("This Item is a Variant of {0} (Template). Attributes will be copied over from the template unless 'No Copy' is set", [frm.doc.variant_of]), true);
 		}
 
-		if (frappe.defaults.get_default("item_naming_by")!="Naming Series") {
+		if (frappe.defaults.get_default("item_naming_by")!="Naming Series" || frm.doc.variant_of) {
 			frm.toggle_display("naming_series", false);
 		} else {
 			erpnext.toggle_naming_series();
diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
index 706fd5a1f4..15a11186e7 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@ class TestItem(unittest.TestCase):
 
 		variant = create_variant("_Test Numeric Template Item",
 			{"Test Size": "Large", "Test Item Length": 1.1})
-		self.assertEquals(variant.item_code, None)
+		self.assertEquals(variant.item_code, "_Test Numeric Template Item-L-1.1")
 		variant.item_code = "_Test Numeric Variant-L-1.1"
 		variant.item_name = "_Test Numeric Variant Large 1.1m"
 		self.assertRaises(InvalidItemAttributeValueError, variant.save)
 
 		variant = create_variant("_Test Numeric Template Item", 
 			{"Test Size": "Large", "Test Item Length": 1.5})
-		self.assertEquals(variant.item_code, None)
+		self.assertEquals(variant.item_code, "_Test Numeric Template Item-L-1.5")
 		variant.item_code = "_Test Numeric Variant-L-1.5"
 		variant.item_name = "_Test Numeric Variant Large 1.5m"
 		variant.save()