diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/importer/ImportProject.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/importer/ImportProject.java
index 80d5e77..e45f79c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/importer/ImportProject.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/importer/ImportProject.java
@@ -229,8 +229,10 @@
         configProjectStep.configure(targetProject, parent, pm);
         replayChangesFactory.create(input.from, api, repo,
             srcProject, targetProject, force, resume, statistic, pm).replay();
-        importGroupsStepFactory.create(input.from, input.user, input.pass,
-            targetProject, pm).importGroups();
+        if (!copy) {
+          importGroupsStepFactory.create(input.from, input.user, input.pass,
+              targetProject, pm).importGroups();
+        }
       } finally {
         repo.close();
       }