diff --git a/application/controllers/CourseadminController.php b/application/controllers/CourseadminController.php
index 687e0de54db498151572c91f488870fe4af3b2b4..cb4b948b259b593480ebf64ee2cc3aa162f144cf 100644
--- a/application/controllers/CourseadminController.php
+++ b/application/controllers/CourseadminController.php
@@ -185,7 +185,10 @@ class CourseAdminController extends Nmc_Controller_Action
             }
         }
 
-        $course->effectiveSemester = 20081;
+
+        if (!$course->effectiveSemester) {
+            $course->effectiveSemester = 20081;
+        }
 
         $course->save();