diff --git a/groups.py b/groups.py
index 3ea18d170..9f6c58faa 100644
--- a/groups.py
+++ b/groups.py
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ def validate_data(ctx, data, allow_update):
         if group.exists(ctx, groupname) and not allow_update:
             errors.append('Group "{}" already exists'.format(groupname))
 
-        # Is user admin or has catergory add privileges?
+        # Is user admin or has category add privileges?
         if not (is_admin or can_add_category):
             if category not in getCategories(ctx):
                 # Insufficient permissions to add new category.
@@ -571,12 +571,6 @@ def validate_data(ctx, data, allow_update):
                 # Insufficient permissions to add new subcategory.
                 errors.append('Subcategory {} does not exist and cannot be created due to insufficient permissions.'.format(subcategory))
 
-        for the_user in managers + members + viewers:
-            if not is_internal_user(the_user):
-                # ensure that external users already have an iRODS account
-                # we do not want to be the actor that creates them
-                if not user.exists(ctx, the_user):
-                    errors.append('Group {} has nonexisting external user {}'.format(groupname, the_user))
     return errors
 
 
diff --git a/tests/features/api/api_group.feature b/tests/features/api/api_group.feature
index 36b4ed48f..a09eb526c 100644
--- a/tests/features/api/api_group.feature
+++ b/tests/features/api/api_group.feature
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ Feature: Group API
         And user "datamanager@yoda.test" is now a member of the group "research-csvtestgroup"
         And user "researcher@yoda.test" is now a member of the group "research-csvtestgroup"
         And user "viewer@yoda.test" is now a member of the group "research-csvtestgroup"
+        And user "researcher1@example.com" is now a member of the group "research-csvtestgroup"
 
 
     Scenario Outline: Group delete
diff --git a/tests/step_defs/api/test_api_group.py b/tests/step_defs/api/test_api_group.py
index 7fe67a24f..e0ae55f09 100644
--- a/tests/step_defs/api/test_api_group.py
+++ b/tests/step_defs/api/test_api_group.py
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ def then_user_update_persisted(user, new_user, group_name):
 
 @given('the Yoda API for processing csv group data API is queried', target_fixture="api_response")
 def api_group_import_csv_data(user):
-    header_and_data = "category,subcategory,groupname,manager:manager,member:member1,member:member2,viewer:viewer1\rdefault-2,default-2,csvtestgroup,datamanager@yoda.test,researcher@yoda.test,functionaladminpriv@yoda.test,viewer@yoda.test"
+    header_and_data = "category,subcategory,groupname,manager:manager,member:member1,member:member2,viewer:viewer1,member:member3\rdefault-2,default-2,csvtestgroup,datamanager@yoda.test,researcher@yoda.test,functionaladminpriv@yoda.test,viewer@yoda.test,researcher1@example.com"
     return api_request(
         user,
         "group_process_csv",