diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 22969c2f..b3294b00 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -787,11 +787,17 @@ class User(HashidMixin, UserMixin, db.Model):
     #endregion Profile Privacy settings
 
     def follow_corpus(self, corpus, role=None):
+        if role is None:
+            cfr = CorpusFollowerRole.query.filter_by(default=True).first()
+        else:
+            cfr = role
         if self.is_following_corpus(corpus):
-            return
-        r = CorpusFollowerRole.query.filter_by(default=True).first() if role is None else role
-        cfa = CorpusFollowerAssociation(corpus=corpus, role=r, follower=self)
-        db.session.add(cfa)
+            cfa = CorpusFollowerAssociation.query.filter_by(corpus=corpus, follower=self).first()
+            if cfa.role != cfr:
+                cfa.role = cfr
+        else:
+            cfa = CorpusFollowerAssociation(corpus=corpus, role=cfr, follower=self)
+            db.session.add(cfa)
 
     def unfollow_corpus(self, corpus):
         if not self.is_following_corpus(corpus):
@@ -840,7 +846,7 @@ class User(HashidMixin, UserMixin, db.Model):
         if role is None:
             return False
         self.follow_corpus(corpus, role)
-        db.session.add(self)
+        # db.session.add(self)
         return True
 
     def to_json_serializeable(self, backrefs=False, relationships=False, filter_by_privacy_settings=False):