diff --git a/ietf/api/views.py b/ietf/api/views.py
index 825b469f52..9d6b94f59a 100644
--- a/ietf/api/views.py
+++ b/ietf/api/views.py
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ def submitted_to_rpc(request):
 
     return JsonResponse(response)
 
+
 @csrf_exempt
 def create_demo_person(request):
     """ Helper for creating rpc demo objects - SHOULD NOT MAKE IT INTO PRODUCTION
@@ -501,12 +502,9 @@ def create_demo_person(request):
     
     request_params = json.loads(request.body)
     name = request_params["name"]
-    if Person.objects.filter(name=name).exists():
-        return HttpResponseForbidden()
-    person = PersonFactory(name=name)
-
+    person = Person.objects.filter(name=name).first() or PersonFactory(name=name)
+    return JsonResponse({"user_id":person.user.pk,"person_pk":person.pk}, status=201)
 
-    return JsonResponse({"user_id":person.user.pk,"person_pk":person.pk})
 
 @csrf_exempt
 def create_demo_draft(request):
@@ -535,5 +533,3 @@ def create_demo_draft(request):
             kwargs["states"] = states
         doc = WgDraftFactory(**kwargs)
     return JsonResponse({ "doc_id":doc.pk, "name":doc.name })
-
-