diff --git a/qa/qa/runtime/api/client.rb b/qa/qa/runtime/api/client.rb
index 25d8f3c0fbb..594913c757a 100644
--- a/qa/qa/runtime/api/client.rb
+++ b/qa/qa/runtime/api/client.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,14 @@ module QA
             Page::Main::Login.perform { |login| login.sign_in_using_credentials(@user) }
           end
 
-          Resource::PersonalAccessToken.fabricate!.access_token
+          token = Resource::PersonalAccessToken.fabricate!.access_token
+
+          # If this is a new session, that tests that follow could fail if they
+          # try to sign in without starting a new session
+          # Sign out so the tests can successfully sign in
+          Page::Main::Menu.perform(&:sign_out) if @is_new_session
+
+          token
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/qa/qa/specs/features/api/3_create/repository/project_archive_compare_spec.rb b/qa/qa/specs/features/api/3_create/repository/project_archive_compare_spec.rb
index 3fe04e8b835..ce8425cb3d1 100644
--- a/qa/qa/specs/features/api/3_create/repository/project_archive_compare_spec.rb
+++ b/qa/qa/specs/features/api/3_create/repository/project_archive_compare_spec.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ module QA
           user_info[:api_client] = Runtime::API::Client.new(:gitlab, user: user_info[:user])
           user_info[:api_client].personal_access_token
           user_info[:project] = create_project(user_info[:user], user_info[:api_client], @project_name)
-          Page::Main::Menu.perform(&:sign_out)
         end
       end
 
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ module QA
       end
 
       def create_project(user, api_client, project_name)
-        project = Resource::Project.fabricate! do |project|
+        project = Resource::Project.fabricate_via_api! do |project|
           project.standalone = true
           project.add_name_uuid = false
           project.name = project_name