diff --git a/awx/main/models/organization.py b/awx/main/models/organization.py
index 220dae07813a..1c77c9e5be06 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/organization.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/organization.py
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ class Meta:
 class UserSessionMembership(BaseModel):
     '''
     A lookup table for API session membership given user. Note, there is a
-    different session created by channels for websockets using the same 
-    underlying model.  
+    different session created by channels for websockets using the same
+    underlying model.
     '''
 
     class Meta:
@@ -177,14 +177,14 @@ class Meta:
     created = models.DateTimeField(default=None, editable=False)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_memberships_over_limit(user, now=None):
+    def get_memberships_over_limit(user_id, now=None):
         if settings.SESSIONS_PER_USER == -1:
             return []
         if now is None:
             now = tz_now()
         query_set = UserSessionMembership.objects\
             .select_related('session')\
-            .filter(user=user)\
+            .filter(user_id=user_id)\
             .order_by('-created')
         non_expire_memberships = [x for x in query_set if x.session.expire_date > now]
         return non_expire_memberships[settings.SESSIONS_PER_USER:]
diff --git a/awx/main/signals.py b/awx/main/signals.py
index ab62d27d98fc..da2898e43fe2 100644
--- a/awx/main/signals.py
+++ b/awx/main/signals.py
@@ -652,20 +652,19 @@ def save_user_session_membership(sender, **kwargs):
         return
     if not session:
         return
-    user = session.get_decoded().get(SESSION_KEY, None)
-    if not user:
+    user_id = session.get_decoded().get(SESSION_KEY, None)
+    if not user_id:
         return
-    user = User.objects.get(pk=user)
-    if UserSessionMembership.objects.filter(user=user, session=session).exists():
+    if UserSessionMembership.objects.filter(user=user_id, session=session).exists():
         return
-    UserSessionMembership(user=user, session=session, created=timezone.now()).save()
-    expired = UserSessionMembership.get_memberships_over_limit(user)
+    UserSessionMembership(user_id=user_id, session=session, created=timezone.now()).save()
+    expired = UserSessionMembership.get_memberships_over_limit(user_id)
     for membership in expired:
         Session.objects.filter(session_key__in=[membership.session_id]).delete()
         membership.delete()
     if len(expired):
         consumers.emit_channel_notification(
-            'control-limit_reached_{}'.format(user.pk),
+            'control-limit_reached_{}'.format(user_id),
             dict(group_name='control', reason='limit_reached')
         )
 
@@ -680,7 +679,7 @@ def create_access_token_user_if_missing(sender, **kwargs):
         post_save.connect(create_access_token_user_if_missing, sender=OAuth2AccessToken)
 
 
-# Connect the Instance Group to Activity Stream receivers. 
+# Connect the Instance Group to Activity Stream receivers.
 post_save.connect(activity_stream_create, sender=InstanceGroup, dispatch_uid=str(InstanceGroup) + "_create")
 pre_save.connect(activity_stream_update, sender=InstanceGroup, dispatch_uid=str(InstanceGroup) + "_update")
 pre_delete.connect(activity_stream_delete, sender=InstanceGroup, dispatch_uid=str(InstanceGroup) + "_delete")