diff --git a/zephyr/models.py b/zephyr/models.py
index 64d0bf8a3a..85d73906b4 100644
--- a/zephyr/models.py
+++ b/zephyr/models.py
@@ -196,20 +196,23 @@ def create_user_base(email, password, active=True):
     username = base64.b32encode(email_hash)[:30]
     return create_user_hack(username, password, email, active)
 
-def create_user(email, password, realm, full_name, short_name):
-    user = create_user_base(email=email, password=password)
+def create_user(email, password, realm, full_name, short_name,
+                active=True):
+    user = create_user_base(email=email, password=password,
+                            active=active)
     user.save()
     return UserProfile.create(user, realm, full_name, short_name)
 
 # TODO: This has a race where a user could be created twice.  Need to
 # add transactions.
-def create_user_if_needed(realm, email, full_name, short_name):
+def create_user_if_needed(realm, email, full_name, short_name,
+                          active=True):
     try:
         return UserProfile.objects.get(user__email=email)
     except UserProfile.DoesNotExist:
         # forge a user for this person
         return create_user(email, initial_password(email), realm,
-                           full_name, short_name)
+                           full_name, short_name, active=active)
 
 def bulk_create_users(realms, users_raw):
     """
diff --git a/zephyr/views.py b/zephyr/views.py
index f8dbb2fc9b..a0986fadee 100644
--- a/zephyr/views.py
+++ b/zephyr/views.py
@@ -556,7 +556,8 @@ def create_mirrored_message_users(request, user_profile):
     # Create a user for the sender, if needed
     if 'email' in sender_data:
         sender = create_user_if_needed(user_profile.realm, sender_data['email'],
-                                       sender_data['full_name'], sender_data['short_name'])
+                                       sender_data['full_name'], sender_data['short_name'],
+                                       active=False)
     else:
         sender = user_profile
 
@@ -564,7 +565,8 @@ def create_mirrored_message_users(request, user_profile):
     for recipient in huddle_recipients:
         create_user_if_needed(user_profile.realm, recipient,
                               recipient.split('@')[0],
-                              recipient.split('@')[0])
+                              recipient.split('@')[0],
+                              active=False)
 
     return (True, sender)