diff --git a/static/js/controllers.js b/static/js/controllers.js
index 25745ff0e..5abee4f49 100644
--- a/static/js/controllers.js
+++ b/static/js/controllers.js
@@ -928,6 +928,10 @@ function V1Ctrl($scope, $location, UserService) {
 }
 
 function NewRepoCtrl($scope, $location, $http, UserService, Restangular, PlanService) {
+  $scope.$watch( function () { return UserService.currentUser(); }, function (currentUser) {
+    $scope.user = currentUser;
+  }, true);
+
   $scope.repo = {
     'is_public': 1,
     'description': '',
@@ -1016,14 +1020,6 @@ function NewRepoCtrl($scope, $location, $http, UserService, Restangular, PlanSer
     }
   };
 
-  $scope.$watch( function () { return UserService.currentUser(); }, function (currentUser) {
-    $scope.user = currentUser;
-
-    if ($scope.user.anonymous) {
-      $location.path('/signin/');
-    }
-  }, true);
-
   $scope.editDescription = function() {
     if (!$scope.markdownDescriptionEditor) {
       var converter = Markdown.getSanitizingConverter();
diff --git a/static/partials/new-repo.html b/static/partials/new-repo.html
index dd02d2faa..30cdd2316 100644
--- a/static/partials/new-repo.html
+++ b/static/partials/new-repo.html
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
-<div class="container" ng-show="building">
+<div class="container" ng-show="user.anonymous">
+  <h3>Please <a href="/signin/">sign in</a></h3>
+</div>
+
+<div class="container" ng-show="!user.anonymous && building">
   <i class="fa fa-spinner fa-spin fa-3x"></i>
 </div>
 
-<div class="container" ng-show="creating">
+<div class="container" ng-show="!user.anonymous && creating">
   <i class="fa fa-spinner fa-spin fa-3x"></i>
 </div>
 
-<div class="container" ng-show="uploading">
+<div class="container" ng-show="!user.anonymous && uploading">
   <span class="message">Uploading file {{ upload_file }}</span>
   <div class="progress progress-striped active">
   <div class="progress-bar"  role="progressbar" aria-valuenow="{{ upload_progress }}" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="100" style="{{ 'width: ' + upload_progress + '%' }}">