diff --git a/controllers/customer_controller.go b/controllers/customer_controller.go
index 6487b4e..9be70d6 100644
--- a/controllers/customer_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/customer_controller.go
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ func (r *CustomerReconciler) Reconcile(req ctrl.Request) (ctrl.Result, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// If CustomerId exists in status, then it's an update request
 	if len(instance.Status.CustomerId) > 0 {
 		// Get the customer from Jira Service Desk
 		existingCustomer, err := r.JiraServiceDeskClient.GetCustomerById(instance.Status.CustomerId)
diff --git a/controllers/project_controller.go b/controllers/project_controller.go
index 204535c..a52912e 100644
--- a/controllers/project_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/project_controller.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package controllers
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ func (r *ProjectReconciler) Reconcile(req ctrl.Request) (ctrl.Result, error) {
 
 	// Check if the Project already exists
 	if len(instance.Status.ID) > 0 {
-		existingProject, err := r.JiraServiceDeskClient.GetProjectById(instance.Status.ID)
+		existingProject, err := r.JiraServiceDeskClient.GetProjectByIdentifier(instance.Status.ID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return reconcilerUtil.ManageError(r.Client, instance, err, false)
 		}
@@ -133,7 +134,17 @@ func (r *ProjectReconciler) handleCreate(req ctrl.Request, instance *jiraservice
 
 	project := r.JiraServiceDeskClient.GetProjectFromProjectCR(instance)
 	projectId, err := r.JiraServiceDeskClient.CreateProject(project)
-	if err != nil {
+
+	// If project already exists then reconstruct status
+	if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "A project with that name already exists.") {
+		existingProject, err := r.JiraServiceDeskClient.GetProjectByIdentifier(instance.Spec.Key)
+		if err != nil {
+			return reconcilerUtil.ManageError(r.Client, instance, err, false)
+		}
+		log.Info("Successfully reconstructed status for Jira Service Desk Project " + instance.Spec.Name)
+
+		projectId = existingProject.Id
+	} else if err != nil {
 		return reconcilerUtil.ManageError(r.Client, instance, err, false)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client.go b/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client.go
index cb097b8..0212d45 100644
--- a/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client.go
+++ b/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ var Log = logf.Log.WithName("jiraServiceDeskClient")
 
 type Client interface {
 	// Methods for Project
-	GetProjectById(id string) (Project, error)
+	GetProjectByIdentifier(identifier string) (Project, error)
 	GetProjectFromProjectCR(project *jiraservicedeskv1alpha1.Project) Project
 	GetProjectCRFromProject(project Project) jiraservicedeskv1alpha1.Project
 	CreateProject(project Project) (string, error)
diff --git a/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project.go b/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project.go
index 947ef12..0ddeec0 100644
--- a/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project.go
+++ b/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ type CustomerAccessRequestBody struct {
 	serviceDeskPublicSignup bool
 }
 
-func (c *jiraServiceDeskClient) GetProjectById(id string) (Project, error) {
+func (c *jiraServiceDeskClient) GetProjectByIdentifier(id string) (Project, error) {
 	var project Project
 
 	request, err := c.newRequest("GET", EndpointApiVersion3Project+"/"+id, nil, false)
diff --git a/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project_test.go b/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project_test.go
index 8fafa63..010d5b9 100644
--- a/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project_test.go
+++ b/pkg/jiraservicedesk/client/client_project_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestJiraService_GetProject_shouldGetProject_whenValidProjectIdIsGiven(t *te
 		JSON(mockData.GetProjectByIdResponseJSON)
 
 	jiraClient := NewClient("", mockData.BaseURL, "")
-	project, err := jiraClient.GetProjectById("/" + mockData.ProjectID)
+	project, err := jiraClient.GetProjectByIdentifier("/" + mockData.ProjectID)
 
 	st.Expect(t, project.Description, mockData.GetProjectByIdExpectedResponse.Description)
 	st.Expect(t, project.Name, mockData.GetProjectByIdExpectedResponse.Name)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func TestJiraService_GetProject_shouldNotGetProject_whenInValidProjectIdIsGiven(
 		Reply(404)
 
 	jiraClient := NewClient("", mockData.BaseURL, "")
-	_, err := jiraClient.GetProjectById("/" + mockData.ProjectID)
+	_, err := jiraClient.GetProjectByIdentifier("/" + mockData.ProjectID)
 
 	st.Expect(t, err, errors.New(mockData.GetProjectFailedErrorMsg))
 	st.Expect(t, gock.IsDone(), true)