diff --git a/atst/handler.py b/atst/handler.py
index 485873c0..3766aa95 100644
--- a/atst/handler.py
+++ b/atst/handler.py
@@ -24,10 +24,17 @@ class BaseHandler(tornado.web.RequestHandler):
 
     @tornado.gen.coroutine
     def _get_user_permissions(self, user_id):
-        response = yield self.authz_client.post(
-            "/users", json={"id": user_id, "atat_role": "ccpo"}
+        response = yield self.authz_client.get(
+            "/users/{}".format(user_id), raise_error=False
         )
-        return response.json
+        if response.code == 404:
+            response = yield self.authz_client.post(
+                "/users", json={"id": user_id, "atat_role": "developer"}
+            )
+            return response.json
+
+        else:
+            return response.json
 
     def get_current_user(self):
         cookie = self.get_secure_cookie("atat")
diff --git a/tests/mocks.py b/tests/mocks.py
index b916d677..2b91e25f 100644
--- a/tests/mocks.py
+++ b/tests/mocks.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from atst.api_client import ApiClient
 
 
 class MockApiClient(ApiClient):
+
     def __init__(self, service):
         self.service = service
 
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ class MockApiClient(ApiClient):
 
 
 class MockRequestsClient(MockApiClient):
+
     @tornado.gen.coroutine
     def get(self, path, **kwargs):
         json = {
@@ -64,44 +66,49 @@ class MockRequestsClient(MockApiClient):
 
 
 class MockAuthzClient(MockApiClient):
+    _json = {
+        "atat_permissions": [
+            "view_original_jedi_request",
+            "review_and_approve_jedi_workspace_request",
+            "modify_atat_role_permissions",
+            "create_csp_role",
+            "delete_csp_role",
+            "deactivate_csp_role",
+            "modify_csp_role_permissions",
+            "view_usage_report",
+            "view_usage_dollars",
+            "add_and_assign_csp_roles",
+            "remove_csp_roles",
+            "request_new_csp_role",
+            "assign_and_unassign_atat_role",
+            "view_assigned_atat_role_configurations",
+            "view_assigned_csp_role_configurations",
+            "deactivate_workspace",
+            "view_atat_permissions",
+            "transfer_ownership_of_workspace",
+            "add_application_in_workspace",
+            "delete_application_in_workspace",
+            "deactivate_application_in_workspace",
+            "view_application_in_workspace",
+            "rename_application_in_workspace",
+            "add_environment_in_application",
+            "delete_environment_in_application",
+            "deactivate_environment_in_application",
+            "view_environment_in_application",
+            "rename_environment_in_application",
+            "add_tag_to_workspace",
+            "remove_tag_from_workspace",
+        ],
+        "atat_role": "ccpo",
+        "id": "164497f6-c1ea-4f42-a5ef-101da278c012",
+        "username": None,
+        "workspace_roles": [],
+    }
+
     @tornado.gen.coroutine
     def post(self, path, **kwargs):
-        json = {
-            "atat_permissions": [
-                "view_original_jedi_request",
-                "review_and_approve_jedi_workspace_request",
-                "modify_atat_role_permissions",
-                "create_csp_role",
-                "delete_csp_role",
-                "deactivate_csp_role",
-                "modify_csp_role_permissions",
-                "view_usage_report",
-                "view_usage_dollars",
-                "add_and_assign_csp_roles",
-                "remove_csp_roles",
-                "request_new_csp_role",
-                "assign_and_unassign_atat_role",
-                "view_assigned_atat_role_configurations",
-                "view_assigned_csp_role_configurations",
-                "deactivate_workspace",
-                "view_atat_permissions",
-                "transfer_ownership_of_workspace",
-                "add_application_in_workspace",
-                "delete_application_in_workspace",
-                "deactivate_application_in_workspace",
-                "view_application_in_workspace",
-                "rename_application_in_workspace",
-                "add_environment_in_application",
-                "delete_environment_in_application",
-                "deactivate_environment_in_application",
-                "view_environment_in_application",
-                "rename_environment_in_application",
-                "add_tag_to_workspace",
-                "remove_tag_from_workspace",
-            ],
-            "atat_role": "ccpo",
-            "id": "164497f6-c1ea-4f42-a5ef-101da278c012",
-            "username": None,
-            "workspace_roles": [],
-        }
-        return self._get_response("POST", path, 200, json=json)
+        return self._get_response("POST", path, 200, json=self._json)
+
+    @tornado.gen.coroutine
+    def get(self, path, **kwargs):
+        return self._get_response("POST", path, 200, json=self._json)