diff --git a/lib/topic_creator.rb b/lib/topic_creator.rb
index e9a5ad14ccc..cfac39f6b31 100644
--- a/lib/topic_creator.rb
+++ b/lib/topic_creator.rb
@@ -106,6 +106,10 @@ class TopicCreator
       topic_params[:views] = @opts[:views].to_i
     end
 
+    if topic_params[:import_mode] && @opts[:participant_count].to_i > 0
+      topic_params[:participant_count] = @opts[:participant_count].to_i
+    end
+
     # Automatically give it a moderator warning subtype if specified
     topic_params[:subtype] = TopicSubtype.moderator_warning if @opts[:is_warning]
 
diff --git a/spec/components/topic_creator_spec.rb b/spec/components/topic_creator_spec.rb
index 9d7230ece14..ba60863cd12 100644
--- a/spec/components/topic_creator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/topic_creator_spec.rb
@@ -70,6 +70,16 @@ describe TopicCreator do
           expect(topic).to be_valid
           expect(topic.category).to eq(category)
         end
+
+        it "ignores participant_count without raising an error" do
+          topic = TopicCreator.create(user, Guardian.new(user), valid_attrs.merge(participant_count: 3))
+          expect(topic.participant_count).to eq(1)
+        end
+
+        it "accepts participant_count in import mode" do
+          topic = TopicCreator.create(user, Guardian.new(user), valid_attrs.merge(import_mode: true, participant_count: 3))
+          expect(topic.participant_count).to eq(3)
+        end
       end
     end