diff --git a/src/authx/auth.py b/src/authx/auth.py
index 7fc4ad2..f2c9101 100644
--- a/src/authx/auth.py
+++ b/src/authx/auth.py
@@ -638,6 +638,8 @@ def add_program_to_opa(program_auth):
             response2, status_code = set_service_store_secret("opa", key="programs", value=json.dumps(response2))
             return response, status_code
 
+    # add the users to the preapproved user list
+
     return {"message": f"{program_id} not added"}, status_code
 
 
@@ -822,7 +824,7 @@ def clear_pending_users_in_opa():
 def list_preapproved_users_in_opa():
     response, status_code = get_service_store_secret("opa", key=f"preapproved_users")
     if status_code == 200:
-        response = list(response["preapproved_users"].keys())
+        response = response["preapproved_users"]
     return response, status_code
 
 
@@ -842,18 +844,16 @@ def get_preapproved_user(user_name):
 
 def add_preapproved_user_in_opa(user_name):
     response, status_code = get_service_store_secret("opa", key=f"preapproved_users")
-    if status_code != 200:
-        return response, status_code
-    preapproved_users = response["preapproved_users"]
-    if user_name in preapproved_users:
-        user_dict = preapproved_users[user_name]
-        user_dict["dac_authorizations"] = {}
-        response2, status_code = write_user_in_opa(user_dict)
-        if status_code == 200:
-            preapproved_users.pop(user_name)
-            response3, status_code = set_service_store_secret("opa", key=f"preapproved_users", value=json.dumps(response))
-    else:
-        return {"error": f"no preapproved user with ID {user_name}"}, 404
+
+    if user_name in response["preapproved_users"]:
+        # return 200 to indicate OK but nothing was added
+        return {"message": f"User {user_name} already pending"}, 200
+
+    response["preapproved_users"].append(user_name)
+
+    response, status_code = set_service_store_secret("opa", key=f"preapproved_users", value=json.dumps(response))
+    if status_code == 200:
+        return response, 201 # 201 created, to indicate that we added the user
     return response, status_code