diff --git a/app/api/v1/projects.py b/app/api/v1/projects.py
index 9e0030b..0a4671e 100644
--- a/app/api/v1/projects.py
+++ b/app/api/v1/projects.py
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ def upgrade_project_json_if_needed(project_data: dict) -> dict:
 def validate_project_data(data_json: str) -> str:
     try:
         data = json.loads(data_json)
+        if "project_id" not in data:
+            data["project_id"] = "temp_legacy_" + str(int(time.time()))
         if "main_session" not in data:
             data = upgrade_project_json_if_needed(data)
             data_json = json.dumps(data)