diff --git a/requiam/grouper_query.py b/requiam/grouper_query.py
index 2bf99a48..f64daa3c 100644
--- a/requiam/grouper_query.py
+++ b/requiam/grouper_query.py
@@ -149,9 +149,12 @@ def grouper_delta_user(group, stem, netid, uaid, action, grouper_dict,
 
         # Update manual CSV file
         if not isinstance(mo, type(None)):
-            mo.update_dataframe(netid, uaid, group, stem)
+            if production:
+                mo.update_dataframe(netid, uaid, group, stem)
+            else:
+                log.info("Working with figtest stem. Not updating dataframe")
     else:
         log.info('dry run, not performing synchronization')
-        log.info('dry run, not updating portal dataframe')
+        log.info('dry run, not updating dataframe')
 
     return d
diff --git a/scripts/user_update b/scripts/user_update
index faea58a3..7e27692a 100644
--- a/scripts/user_update
+++ b/scripts/user_update
@@ -334,9 +334,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                 # Remove entry from manual CSV file for 'root' case
                 if args.sync:
                     # Update of df only needed since there's not root portal to add too
-                    mo.update_dataframe(current_dict['not_portal']['netid'],
-                                        current_dict['not_portal']['uaid'],
-                                        vargs['portal'], 'portal')
+                    if grouper_production:
+                        mo.update_dataframe(current_dict['not_portal']['netid'],
+                                            current_dict['not_portal']['uaid'],
+                                            vargs['portal'], 'portal')
+                    else:
+                        log.info("Working with figtest stem. Not updating")
                 else:
                     log.info('dry run, not updating portal dataframe')
 
@@ -376,9 +379,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                 # Remove entry from manual CSV file for 'root' case
                 if args.sync:
                     # Update of df only needed since there's not root portal to add too
-                    mo.update_dataframe(current_dict['not_quota']['netid'],
-                                        current_dict['not_quota']['uaid'],
-                                        vargs['quota'], 'quota')
+                    if grouper_production:
+                        mo.update_dataframe(current_dict['not_quota']['netid'],
+                                            current_dict['not_quota']['uaid'],
+                                            vargs['quota'], 'quota')
+                    else:
+                        log.info("Working with figtest stem. Not updating")
                 else:
                     log.info('dry run, not updating portal dataframe')