diff --git a/pori_python/ipr/connection.py b/pori_python/ipr/connection.py
index d85ebf7..254a1cf 100644
--- a/pori_python/ipr/connection.py
+++ b/pori_python/ipr/connection.py
@@ -101,6 +101,17 @@ def upload_report(
             # if async is used, the response for reports-async contains either 'jobStatus'
             # or 'report'. jobStatus is no longer available once the report is successfully
             # uploaded.
+
+            projects = self.get("project")
+            project_names = [item['name'] for item in projects]
+
+            # if project is not exist, create one
+            if content['project'] not in project_names:
+                try:
+                    self.post("project", {'name': content['project']})
+                except Exception as err:
+                    raise Exception(f"create project failure: {err}")
+
             initial_result = self.post("reports-async", content)
 
             report_id = initial_result["ident"]