diff --git a/api/v1/serializers/course.py b/api/v1/serializers/course.py
index ac14f50a..4c6814a8 100644
--- a/api/v1/serializers/course.py
+++ b/api/v1/serializers/course.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class CourseCreateSerializer(DispatchContentMixin,
         materials = validated_data.pop('materials', [])
         gallery = validated_data.pop('gallery', {})
         author = validated_data.get('author', None)
-        if not author:
+        if not instance.author or not author:
             validated_data['author'] = self.context['request'].user
         course = super().update(instance, validated_data)
         self.dispatch_materials(course, materials)