diff --git a/django_saml2_auth/views.py b/django_saml2_auth/views.py
index c0bae12..c7991bd 100644
--- a/django_saml2_auth/views.py
+++ b/django_saml2_auth/views.py
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ def _create_new_user(username, email, firstname, lastname):
     user = User.objects.create_user(username, email)
     user.first_name = firstname
     user.last_name = lastname
-    user.groups = [Group.objects.get(name=x) for x in settings.SAML2_AUTH.get('NEW_USER_PROFILE', {}).get('USER_GROUPS', [])]
+    groups = [Group.objects.get(name=x) for x in settings.SAML2_AUTH.get('NEW_USER_PROFILE', {}).get('USER_GROUPS', [])]
+    user.groups.set(groups)
     user.is_active = settings.SAML2_AUTH.get('NEW_USER_PROFILE', {}).get('ACTIVE_STATUS', True)
     user.is_staff = settings.SAML2_AUTH.get('NEW_USER_PROFILE', {}).get('STAFF_STATUS', True)
     user.is_superuser = settings.SAML2_AUTH.get('NEW_USER_PROFILE', {}).get('SUPERUSER_STATUS', False)