diff --git a/mediathread/main/tests/test_views.py b/mediathread/main/tests/test_views.py
index 78c251171..2eb803520 100644
--- a/mediathread/main/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/mediathread/main/tests/test_views.py
@@ -435,12 +435,12 @@ def test_get_initial_anonymous(self):
         view.request = RequestFactory().get('/contact/')
         view.request.session = {}
         view.request.user = AnonymousUser()
-        view.get_initial()
+        initial = view.get_initial()
 
-        self.assertIsNotNone(view.initial['issue_date'])
-        self.assertFalse('name' in view.initial)
-        self.assertFalse('email' in view.initial)
-        self.assertFalse('username' in view.initial)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(initial['issue_date'])
+        self.assertFalse('name' in initial)
+        self.assertFalse('email' in initial)
+        self.assertFalse('username' in initial)
 
     def test_get_initial_not_anonymous(self):
         view = ContactUsView()
@@ -450,12 +450,20 @@ def test_get_initial_not_anonymous(self):
                                         last_name='Bar',
                                         email='foo@bar.com')
 
-        view.get_initial()
+        initial = view.get_initial()
+        self.assertIsNotNone(initial['issue_date'])
+        self.assertEquals(initial['name'], 'Foo Bar')
+        self.assertEquals(initial['email'], 'foo@bar.com')
+        self.assertEquals(initial['username'], view.request.user.username)
 
-        self.assertIsNotNone(view.initial['issue_date'])
-        self.assertEquals(view.initial['name'], 'Foo Bar')
-        self.assertEquals(view.initial['email'], 'foo@bar.com')
-        self.assertEquals(view.initial['username'], view.request.user.username)
+        # a subsequent call using an anonymous session returns a clean initial
+        view.request.session = {}
+        view.request.user = AnonymousUser()
+        initial = view.get_initial()
+        self.assertIsNotNone(initial['issue_date'])
+        self.assertFalse('name' in initial)
+        self.assertFalse('email' in initial)
+        self.assertFalse('username' in initial)
 
     def test_form_valid(self):
         view = ContactUsView()
diff --git a/mediathread/main/views.py b/mediathread/main/views.py
index b149abf46..64605ea4d 100644
--- a/mediathread/main/views.py
+++ b/mediathread/main/views.py
@@ -417,17 +417,18 @@ def get_initial(self):
         """
         Returns the initial data to use for forms on this view.
         """
+        initial = super(ContactUsView, self).get_initial()
         if not self.request.user.is_anonymous():
-            self.initial['name'] = self.request.user.get_full_name()
-            self.initial['email'] = self.request.user.email
-            self.initial['username'] = self.request.user.username
+            initial['name'] = self.request.user.get_full_name()
+            initial['email'] = self.request.user.email
+            initial['username'] = self.request.user.username
 
-        self.initial['issue_date'] = datetime.now()
+        initial['issue_date'] = datetime.now()
 
         if SESSION_KEY in self.request.session:
-            self.initial['course'] = self.request.session[SESSION_KEY].title
+            initial['course'] = self.request.session[SESSION_KEY].title
 
-        return super(ContactUsView, self).get_initial()
+        return initial
 
     def form_valid(self, form):
         subject = "Mediathread Contact Us Request"