diff --git a/backend/project/endpoints/projects/projects.py b/backend/project/endpoints/projects/projects.py
index 39815429..bfa65a0e 100644
--- a/backend/project/endpoints/projects/projects.py
+++ b/backend/project/endpoints/projects/projects.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def post(self):
 
         # save the file that is given with the request
 
-        new_project, _ = create_model_instance(
+        new_project, status_code = create_model_instance(
             Project,
             project_json,
             urljoin(f"{API_URL}/", "/projects"),
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ def post(self):
                 "archieved"]
         )
 
+        if status_code == 400:
+            return new_project, status_code
+
         project_upload_directory = os.path.join(f"{UPLOAD_FOLDER}", f"{new_project.project_id}")
 
         os.makedirs(project_upload_directory, exist_ok=True)