diff --git a/local/o365/classes/feature/coursesync/utils.php b/local/o365/classes/feature/coursesync/utils.php
index 0a69a66e3..52e7b59e9 100644
--- a/local/o365/classes/feature/coursesync/utils.php
+++ b/local/o365/classes/feature/coursesync/utils.php
@@ -789,7 +789,10 @@ public static function sync_user_role_in_course_group(int $userid, int $courseid
                             break;
                         case MICROSOFT365_GROUP_ROLE_MEMBER:
                             // Add user to the Microsoft 365 group as member.
-                            $coursesync->remove_owner_from_group($groupobjectid, $userobjectid);
+                            $groupowneroids = $coursesync->get_group_owners($groupobjectid);
+                            if (in_array($userobjectid, $groupowneroids)) {
+                                $coursesync->remove_owner_from_group($groupobjectid, $userobjectid);
+                            }
                             $coursesync->add_member_to_group($groupobjectid, $userobjectid);
                             break;
                     }