diff --git a/tests/app/conftest.py b/tests/app/conftest.py
index 407372d64..5b6aa2234 100644
--- a/tests/app/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/app/conftest.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ def service_factory(notify_db, notify_db_session):
                 service_name=service_name,
                 service_permissions=None,
                 user=user,
+                check_if_service_exists=True,
             )
             if template_type == 'email':
                 create_template(
@@ -200,7 +201,8 @@ def sample_service(
 def _sample_service_full_permissions(notify_db_session):
     service = create_service(
         service_name="sample service full permissions",
-        service_permissions=set(SERVICE_PERMISSION_TYPES)
+        service_permissions=set(SERVICE_PERMISSION_TYPES),
+        check_if_service_exists=True
     )
     create_inbound_number('12345', service_id=service.id)
     return service
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ def sample_template(
     if service is None:
         service = Service.query.filter_by(name='Sample service').first()
         if not service:
-            service = create_service(service_permissions=permissions)
+            service = create_service(service_permissions=permissions, check_if_service_exists=True)
     if created_by is None:
         created_by = create_user()
 
@@ -295,7 +297,7 @@ def sample_email_template(
     if user is None:
         user = create_user()
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service(user=user, service_permissions=permissions)
+        service = create_service(user=user, service_permissions=permissions, check_if_service_exists=True)
     data = {
         'name': template_name,
         'template_type': template_type,
@@ -350,7 +352,7 @@ def sample_api_key(notify_db,
                    key_type=KEY_TYPE_NORMAL,
                    name=None):
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     data = {'service': service, 'name': name or uuid.uuid4(), 'created_by': service.created_by, 'key_type': key_type}
     api_key = ApiKey(**data)
     save_model_api_key(api_key)
@@ -382,7 +384,7 @@ def sample_job(
     archived=False
 ):
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     if template is None:
         template = create_template(service=service)
     data = {
@@ -441,7 +443,7 @@ def sample_email_job(notify_db,
                      service=None,
                      template=None):
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     if template is None:
         template = sample_email_template(
             notify_db,
@@ -549,7 +551,7 @@ def sample_notification(
     if created_at is None:
         created_at = datetime.utcnow()
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     if template is None:
         template = create_template(service=service)
 
@@ -638,7 +640,7 @@ def sample_notification_with_api_key(notify_db, notify_db_session):
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def sample_email_notification(notify_db, notify_db_session):
     created_at = datetime.utcnow()
-    service = create_service()
+    service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     template = sample_email_template(notify_db, notify_db_session, service=service)
     job = sample_job(notify_db, notify_db_session, service=service, template=template)
 
@@ -740,7 +742,7 @@ def sample_invited_user(notify_db,
                         to_email_address=None):
 
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     if to_email_address is None:
         to_email_address = 'invited_user@digital.gov.uk'
 
@@ -780,7 +782,7 @@ def sample_permission(notify_db,
         'permission': permission
     }
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
     if service:
         data['service'] = service
     p_model = Permission.query.filter_by(
@@ -801,7 +803,7 @@ def sample_user_service_permission(
     if user is None:
         user = create_user()
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service(user=user)
+        service = create_service(user=user, check_if_service_exists=True)
     data = {
         'user': user,
         'service': service,
@@ -1035,7 +1037,7 @@ def notify_service(notify_db, notify_db_session):
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def sample_service_whitelist(notify_db, notify_db_session, service=None, email_address=None, mobile_number=None):
     if service is None:
-        service = create_service()
+        service = create_service(check_if_service_exists=True)
 
     if email_address:
         whitelisted_user = ServiceWhitelist.from_string(service.id, EMAIL_TYPE, email_address)
@@ -1060,7 +1062,7 @@ def sample_provider_rate(notify_db, notify_db_session, valid_from=None, rate=Non
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def sample_inbound_numbers(notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service):
-    service = create_service(service_name='sample service 2')
+    service = create_service(service_name='sample service 2', check_if_service_exists=True)
     inbound_numbers = list()
     inbound_numbers.append(create_inbound_number(number='1', provider='mmg'))
     inbound_numbers.append(create_inbound_number(number='2', provider='mmg', active=False, service_id=service.id))
diff --git a/tests/app/db.py b/tests/app/db.py
index d6d4b9553..5c4889057 100644
--- a/tests/app/db.py
+++ b/tests/app/db.py
@@ -81,10 +81,12 @@ def create_service(
         prefix_sms=True,
         message_limit=1000,
         organisation_type='central',
-        postage='second'
+        postage='second',
+        check_if_service_exists=False
 ):
-    service = Service.query.filter_by(name=service_name).first()
-    if not service:
+    if check_if_service_exists:
+        service = Service.query.filter_by(name=service_name).first()
+    if (not check_if_service_exists) or (check_if_service_exists and not service):
         service = Service(
             name=service_name,
             message_limit=message_limit,