diff --git a/jeepyb/cmd/manage_projects.py b/jeepyb/cmd/manage_projects.py
index 1a93709..40b2a0b 100644
--- a/jeepyb/cmd/manage_projects.py
+++ b/jeepyb/cmd/manage_projects.py
@@ -215,11 +215,11 @@
 
 
 def get_group_uuid(gerrit, group):
+    if group in GERRIT_SYSTEM_GROUPS:
+        return GERRIT_SYSTEM_GROUPS[group]
     uuid = _get_group_uuid(gerrit, group, retries=1)
     if uuid:
         return uuid
-    if group in GERRIT_SYSTEM_GROUPS:
-        return GERRIT_SYSTEM_GROUPS[group]
     gerrit.createGroup(group)
     for user in list(gerrit.listMembers(group)):
         if gerrit.connection.username == user['username']: