diff --git a/backend/LexBoxApi/GraphQL/ProjectMutations.cs b/backend/LexBoxApi/GraphQL/ProjectMutations.cs
index b481eb7c6..55e2b8ed5 100644
--- a/backend/LexBoxApi/GraphQL/ProjectMutations.cs
+++ b/backend/LexBoxApi/GraphQL/ProjectMutations.cs
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ public async Task<CreateProjectResponse> CreateProject(
         ProjectService projectService,
         IEmailService emailService)
     {
-        if (!loggedInContext.User.IsAdmin)
+        if (!loggedInContext.User.IsAdmin || input.ForceDraft) //draft projects should always have a manager
         {
             // For non-admins we always implicitly set them as the project manager
             // Only admins can create empty projects or projects for other users
             input = input with { ProjectManagerId = loggedInContext.User.Id };
         }
 
-        if (!permissionService.HasProjectCreatePermission())
+        if (!permissionService.HasProjectCreatePermission() || input.ForceDraft)
         {
             if (!permissionService.HasProjectRequestPermission()) throw new ProjectCreatorsMustHaveEmail("Project creators must have a valid email address");
             var draftProjectId = await projectService.CreateDraftProject(input);
diff --git a/backend/LexBoxApi/Models/Project/CreateProjectInput.cs b/backend/LexBoxApi/Models/Project/CreateProjectInput.cs
index 57ec07ed8..99ed92179 100644
--- a/backend/LexBoxApi/Models/Project/CreateProjectInput.cs
+++ b/backend/LexBoxApi/Models/Project/CreateProjectInput.cs
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ public record CreateProjectInput(
     RetentionPolicy RetentionPolicy,
     bool IsConfidential,
     Guid? ProjectManagerId,
-    Guid? OrgId
+    Guid? OrgId,
+    bool ForceDraft = false
 );
diff --git a/frontend/schema.graphql b/frontend/schema.graphql
index 9a315d8c3..661b966e6 100644
--- a/frontend/schema.graphql
+++ b/frontend/schema.graphql
@@ -755,6 +755,7 @@ input CreateProjectInput {
   isConfidential: Boolean!
   projectManagerId: UUID
   orgId: UUID
+  forceDraft: Boolean! = false
 }
 
 input DateTimeOperationFilterInput {
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/(authenticated)/project/create/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/(authenticated)/project/create/+page.svelte
index a5cb73764..a651beca8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/(authenticated)/project/create/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/(authenticated)/project/create/+page.svelte
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
   import { NewTabLinkRenderer } from '$lib/components/Markdown';
   import Button from '$lib/forms/Button.svelte';
   import {projectUrl} from '$lib/util/project';
+  import DevContent from '$lib/layout/DevContent.svelte';
 
   export let data;
   $: user = data.user;
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@
     isConfidential: z.boolean().default(false),
     orgId: z.string().trim()
   });
+  let forceDraft = false;
 
   //random guid
   let projectId:string = crypto.randomUUID();
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@
       isConfidential: $form.isConfidential,
       projectManagerId: requestingUser?.id,
       orgId: $form.orgId === '' ? null : $form.orgId,
+      forceDraft
     });
     if (result.error) {
       if (result.error.byCode(DbErrorCode.Duplicate)) {
@@ -329,6 +332,9 @@
         <ProjectConfidentialityCombobox bind:value={$form.isConfidential} />
       </div>
 
+      <DevContent>
+        <Checkbox label="Force draft project creation" bind:value={forceDraft}/>
+      </DevContent>
       <FormError error={$message} />
       <SubmitButton loading={$submitting}>
           {#if data.user.canCreateProjects}