diff --git a/ckan/lib/navl/validators.py b/ckan/lib/navl/validators.py
index f72e2788617..dcfd9f50331 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/navl/validators.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/navl/validators.py
@@ -92,3 +92,6 @@ def convert_int(value, context):
     except ValueError:
         raise Invalid(_('Please enter an integer value'))
 
+def read_only_validator(value, context):
+
+    return value
diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/get.py b/ckan/logic/action/get.py
index 3e4c9866feb..854f88419a9 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/get.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/get.py
@@ -845,12 +845,13 @@ def _group_or_org_show(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
     except AttributeError:
         schema = group_plugin.db_to_form_schema()
 
-    if schema:
-        group_dict, errors = _validate(group_dict, schema, context=context)
-
     group_dict['num_followers'] = logic.get_action('group_follower_count')(
             {'model': model, 'session': model.Session},
             {'id': group_dict['id']})
+
+    if schema:
+        group_dict, errors = _validate(group_dict, schema, context=context)
+
     return group_dict
 
 
diff --git a/ckan/logic/schema.py b/ckan/logic/schema.py
index 53af9fd01ef..0d034bf1542 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/schema.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/schema.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
                                       ignore,
                                       if_empty_same_as,
                                       not_missing,
-                                      ignore_empty
+                                      ignore_empty,
+                                      read_only_validator
                                      )
 from ckan.logic.validators import (package_id_not_changed,
                                    package_id_exists,
@@ -306,6 +307,7 @@ def default_group_schema():
 def group_form_schema():
     schema = default_group_schema()
     #schema['extras_validation'] = [duplicate_extras_key, ignore]
+    schema['num_followers'] = [ignore_missing, int_validator, read_only_validator]
     schema['packages'] = {
         "name": [not_empty, unicode],
         "title": [ignore_missing],