diff --git a/rattail/importing/model.py b/rattail/importing/model.py
index f0589508..af651c53 100644
--- a/rattail/importing/model.py
+++ b/rattail/importing/model.py
@@ -573,6 +573,13 @@ class CustomerImporter(ToRattail):
 
         return data
 
+    def get_group(self, group_id):
+        if hasattr(self, 'groups'):
+            return self.groups.get(group_id)
+        return self.session.query(model.CustomerGroup)\
+                           .filter(model.CustomerGroup.id == group_id)\
+                           .first()
+
     def update_object(self, customer, data, local_data=None):
         customer = super(CustomerImporter, self).update_object(customer, data, local_data)
 
@@ -628,13 +635,14 @@ class CustomerImporter(ToRattail):
         if 'group_id' in self.fields:
             group_id = data['group_id']
             if group_id:
-                group = self.groups.get(group_id)
+                group = self.get_group(group_id)
                 if not group:
                     group = model.CustomerGroup()
                     group.id = group_id
                     group.name = "(auto-created)"
                     self.session.add(group)
-                    self.groups[group.id] = group
+                    if hasattr(self, 'groups'):
+                        self.groups[group.id] = group
                 if group in customer.groups:
                     if group is not customer.groups[0]:
                         customer.groups.remove(group)
@@ -647,13 +655,14 @@ class CustomerImporter(ToRattail):
         if 'group_id_2' in self.fields:
             group_id = data['group_id_2']
             if group_id:
-                group = self.groups.get(group_id)
+                group = self.get_group(group_id)
                 if not group:
                     group = model.CustomerGroup()
                     group.id = group_id
                     group.name = "(auto-created)"
                     self.session.add(group)
-                    self.groups[group.id] = group
+                    if hasattr(self, 'groups'):
+                        self.groups[group.id] = group
                 if group in customer.groups:
                     if len(customer.groups) > 1:
                         if group is not customer.groups[1]: