diff --git a/discovery-provider/src/tasks/entity_manager/user.py b/discovery-provider/src/tasks/entity_manager/user.py
index f9bb7e6cb0b..3aee7d92026 100644
--- a/discovery-provider/src/tasks/entity_manager/user.py
+++ b/discovery-provider/src/tasks/entity_manager/user.py
@@ -67,14 +67,15 @@ def validate_user_tx(params: ManageEntityParameters):
 def validate_user_metadata(session, user_record: User, user_metadata: Dict):
     # If the user's handle is not set, validate that it is unique
     if not user_record.handle:
+        handle_lower = user_metadata["handle"].lower()
         user_handle_exists = session.query(
-            session.query(User).filter(User.handle == user_metadata["handle"]).exists()
+            session.query(User).filter(User.handle_lc == handle_lower).exists()
         ).scalar()
         if user_handle_exists:
             # Invalid user handle - should not continue to save...
             raise Exception(f"User handle {user_metadata['handle']} already exists")
         user_record.handle = user_metadata["handle"]
-        user_record.handle_lc = user_metadata["handle"].lower()
+        user_record.handle_lc = handle_lower
 
     # If an artist pick track id is specified, validate that it is a valid track id
     if (