diff --git a/tests/test_scheduler.py b/tests/test_scheduler.py
index 628775d..335f987 100755
--- a/tests/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/test_scheduler.py
@@ -4267,6 +4267,25 @@
         self.waitUntilSettled()
         self.assertEqual(self.history[-1].changes, '3,2 2,1 1,2')
 
+    def test_crd_check_unknown(self):
+        "Test unknown projects in independent pipeline"
+        self.init_repo("org/unknown")
+        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project1', 'master', 'A')
+        B = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/unknown', 'master', 'D')
+        # A Depends-On: B
+        A.data['commitMessage'] = '%s\n\nDepends-On: %s\n' % (
+            A.subject, B.data['id'])
+
+        # Make sure zuul has seen an event on B.
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(B.getPatchsetCreatedEvent(1))
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.getPatchsetCreatedEvent(1))
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+
+        self.assertEqual(A.data['status'], 'NEW')
+        self.assertEqual(A.reported, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(B.data['status'], 'NEW')
+        self.assertEqual(B.reported, 0)
+
     def test_crd_cycle_join(self):
         "Test an updated change creates a cycle"
         A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project2', 'master', 'A')
diff --git a/zuul/scheduler.py b/zuul/scheduler.py
index b974762..b52931e 100644
--- a/zuul/scheduler.py
+++ b/zuul/scheduler.py
@@ -625,12 +625,12 @@
     def setMerger(self, merger):
         self.merger = merger
 
-    def getProject(self, name, create_foreign=False):
+    def getProject(self, name):
         self.layout_lock.acquire()
         p = None
         try:
             p = self.layout.projects.get(name)
-            if p is None and create_foreign:
+            if p is None:
                 self.log.info("Registering foreign project: %s" % name)
                 p = Project(name, foreign=True)
                 self.layout.projects[name] = p
diff --git a/zuul/source/gerrit.py b/zuul/source/gerrit.py
index 73cf726..463f315 100644
--- a/zuul/source/gerrit.py
+++ b/zuul/source/gerrit.py
@@ -243,11 +243,7 @@
 
         if 'project' not in data:
             raise exceptions.ChangeNotFound(change.number, change.patchset)
-        # If updated changed came as a dependent on
-        # and its project is not defined,
-        # then create a 'foreign' project for it in layout
-        change.project = self.sched.getProject(data['project'],
-                                               create_foreign=bool(history))
+        change.project = self.sched.getProject(data['project'])
         change.branch = data['branch']
         change.url = data['url']
         max_ps = 0