diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 6c10c876..d14bf1e3 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ class User(StringIdModel, metaclass=ProtocolUserMeta):
             if not propagate:
                 return user
         else:
+            if orig := get_original(id):
+                return orig
             user = cls(id=id, **kwargs)
             user.existing = False
 
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 4a76f42f..448b4ab3 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -138,6 +138,11 @@ class UserTest(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual('y.z', got.key.id())
         assert got.existing
 
+    def test_get_or_create_by_copies(self):
+        other = self.make_user(id='other:ab', cls=OtherFake,
+                               copies=[Target(uri='fake:ab', protocol='fake')])
+        self.assert_entities_equal(other, Fake.get_or_create('fake:ab'))
+
     def test_get_or_create_opted_out(self):
         user = self.make_user('fake:user', cls=Fake,
                               obj_as1 = {'summary': '#nobridge'})