diff --git a/changes/7804.bugfix b/changes/7804.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..23e12414616
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/7804.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Aligned `member_create` with `group_member_save` to prevent possible member duplication.
diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/create.py b/ckan/logic/action/create.py
index 3283aab9e21..3394868b13b 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/create.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/create.py
@@ -612,7 +612,10 @@ def member_create(context: Context,
         filter(model.Member.table_name == obj_type).\
         filter(model.Member.table_id == obj.id).\
         filter(model.Member.group_id == group.id).\
-        filter(model.Member.state == 'active').first()
+        order_by(
+            # type_ignore_reason: incomplete SQLAlchemy types
+            model.Member.state.asc()  # type: ignore
+        ).first()
     if member:
         user_obj = model.User.get(user)
         if user_obj and member.table_name == u'user' and \
@@ -621,6 +624,8 @@ def member_create(context: Context,
                 capacity != u'admin':
             raise NotAuthorized("Administrators cannot revoke their "
                                 "own admin status")
+        if member.state != 'active':
+            member.state = 'active'
     else:
         member = model.Member(table_name=obj_type,
                               table_id=obj.id,