diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/populate_creators.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/populate_creators.py
index e9453025a0..28f360bacf 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/populate_creators.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/populate_creators.py
@@ -2,13 +2,23 @@ from auth.authz import _grant_instructors_creator_access
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.db.utils import IntegrityError
 
 
 class Command(BaseCommand):
     help = 'Grants all users with INSTRUCTOR role permission to create courses'
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
-        admin = User.objects.create_user('populate_creators_command', 'grant+creator+access@edx.org', 'foo')
-        admin.is_staff = True
+        username = 'populate_creators_command'
+        email = 'grant+creator+access@edx.org'
+        try:
+            admin = User.objects.create_user(username, email, 'foo')
+            admin.is_staff = True
+            admin.save()
+        except IntegrityError:
+            # If the script did not complete the last time it was run,
+            # the admin user will already exist.
+            admin = User.objects.get(username=username, email=email)
+
         _grant_instructors_creator_access(admin)
         admin.delete()