diff --git a/src/lib/diff/tree-diff-application.hpp b/src/lib/diff/tree-diff-application.hpp
index 836de4aca..5ab996f4b 100644
--- a/src/lib/diff/tree-diff-application.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/diff/tree-diff-application.hpp
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ namespace diff{
             throw error::State(_Fmt("Unable to %s element %s from target as demanded; "
                                     "no (further) elements in target sequence") % oper % elm
                               , LUMIERA_ERROR_DIFF_CONFLICT);
+          
+          if (elm.matches(Ref::CHILD) and not srcPos()->isNamed())
+            return; // allow for anonymous pick or delete of children
+          
           if (not srcPos()->matches(elm))
             throw error::State(_Fmt("Unable to %s element %s from target as demanded; "
                                     "found element %s on current target position instead")
diff --git a/tests/library/diff/diff-tree-application-test.cpp b/tests/library/diff/diff-tree-application-test.cpp
index 964a46b72..0c1508d6c 100644
--- a/tests/library/diff/diff-tree-application-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/library/diff/diff-tree-application-test.cpp
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ namespace test{
       DiffSeq
       mutationDiff()
         {
-          return snapshot({after(Ref::ATTRIBS)
+          return snapshot({after(Ref::ATTRIBS)      // fast forward to the first child
                          , find(CHILD_T)
                          , pick(CHILD_A)
                          , skip(CHILD_T)
                          , del(CHILD_T)
-                         , pick(Ref::CHILD)
+                         , pick(Ref::CHILD)         // pick a child anonymously
                          , mut(Ref::THIS)
                            , ins(ATTRIB3)
                            , ins(ATTRIB_NODE)