diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py
index aac5ae05a761..d25bdfe822b1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py
@@ -312,12 +312,11 @@ def _ensure_badge_created(self, badge_class):
         Verify a badge has been created for this badge class, and create it if not.
         """
         slug = badge_class.badgr_server_slug
-        if slug in BadgrBackend.badges:
+        if slug != "":
             return
         response = requests.get(self._badge_url(slug), headers=self._get_headers(), timeout=settings.BADGR_TIMEOUT)
         if response.status_code != 200:
             self._create_badge(badge_class)
-        BadgrBackend.badges.append(slug)
 
     def award(self, badge_class, user, evidence_url=None):
         """