diff --git a/api/nodes/serializers.py b/api/nodes/serializers.py
index 4f4dddc4bc5a..efb281ae0e6e 100644
--- a/api/nodes/serializers.py
+++ b/api/nodes/serializers.py
@@ -1618,10 +1618,6 @@ def create(self, validated_data):
         if registration_responses:
             self.update_registration_responses(draft, registration_responses)
 
-        if affiliate_user_institutions and isinstance(draft.branched_from, DraftNode):
-            for institution in draft.creator.get_institution_affiliations():
-                draft.affiliated_institutions.add(*draft.creator.affiliated_institutions.all())
-
         return draft
 
     class Meta:
diff --git a/osf/models/registrations.py b/osf/models/registrations.py
index ceff62c98a2b..55306491de82 100644
--- a/osf/models/registrations.py
+++ b/osf/models/registrations.py
@@ -1251,42 +1251,31 @@ def system_tags(self):
 
     @classmethod
     def create_from_node(cls, user, schema, node=None, data=None, provider=None):
-        if not provider:
-            provider = RegistrationProvider.get_default()
+        provider = provider or RegistrationProvider.get_default()
 
-        if provider.is_default:
-            # If the default provider doesn't have schemas specified yet, allow all schemas
-            if provider.schemas.exists():
-                provider.validate_schema(schema)
-        else:
+        if provider.is_default and provider.schemas.exists() or not provider.is_default:
             provider.validate_schema(schema)
 
-        excluded_attributes = []
-        if not node:
-            # If no node provided, a DraftNode is created for you
-            node = DraftNode.objects.create(creator=user, title=settings.DEFAULT_DRAFT_NODE_TITLE)
-            # Force the user to add their own title for no-project
-            excluded_attributes.append('title')
-
-        if not (isinstance(node, Node) or isinstance(node, DraftNode)):
-            raise DraftRegistrationStateError()
+        if node:
+            branched_from = node
+            excluded_attributes = []
+        else:
+            branched_from = DraftNode.objects.create(creator=user, title=settings.DEFAULT_DRAFT_NODE_TITLE)
+            excluded_attributes = ['title']
 
         draft = cls(
             initiator=user,
-            branched_from=node,
+            branched_from=branched_from,
             registration_schema=schema,
             registration_metadata=data or {},
             provider=provider,
         )
         draft.save()
-        draft.copy_editable_fields(
-            node,
-            save=True,
-            excluded_attributes=excluded_attributes
-        )
+        draft.copy_editable_fields(branched_from, excluded_attributes=excluded_attributes)
         draft.update(data, auth=Auth(user))
 
-        if node.type == 'osf.draftnode':
+        if not node:
+            draft.affiliated_institutions.set(draft.creator.get_institution_affiliations())
             initiator_permissions = draft.contributor_set.get(user=user).permission
             signals.contributor_added.send(
                 draft,