diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/__init__.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/__init__.py
index 7a38b99b5e..433278c47b 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/__init__.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 from xmodule.modulestore.xml import XMLModuleStore
+import logging
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def import_from_xml(org, course, data_dir):
@@ -9,7 +12,14 @@ def import_from_xml(org, course, data_dir):
     """
     module_store = XMLModuleStore(org, course, data_dir, 'xmodule.raw_module.RawDescriptor', eager=True)
     for module in module_store.modules.itervalues():
-        modulestore().create_item(module.location)
+
+        # TODO (cpennington): This forces import to overrite the same items.
+        # This should in the future create new revisions of the items on import
+        try:
+            modulestore().create_item(module.location)
+        except:
+            log.exception('Item already exists at %s' % module.location.url())
+            pass
         if 'data' in module.definition:
             modulestore().update_item(module.location, module.definition['data'])
         if 'children' in module.definition: