diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_config.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_config.py
index 548df0ec89e..2dedaccbc12 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_config.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_config.py
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ class res_config_settings(osv.osv_memory, res_config_module_installation_mixin):
         ir_module = self.pool['ir.module.module']
         def ref(xml_id):
             mod, xml = xml_id.split('.', 1)
-            return ir_model_data.get_object(cr, uid, mod, xml, context=context, check_existence_and_raise=True)
+            return ir_model_data.get_object(cr, uid, mod, xml, context=context)
 
         defaults, groups, modules, others = [], [], [], []
         for name, field in self._columns.items():
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
index bcce38ee3e3..43d3706d72d 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
@@ -681,8 +681,13 @@ class groups_view(osv.osv):
     def update_user_groups_view(self, cr, uid, context=None):
         # the view with id 'base.user_groups_view' inherits the user form view,
         # and introduces the reified group fields
-        view = self.get_user_groups_view(cr, uid, context)
-        if view:
+        # we have to try-catch this, because at first init the view does not exist
+        # but we are already creating some basic groups
+        try:
+            view = self.pool['ir.model.data'].get_object(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, 'base', 'user_groups_view', context=context, check_existence_and_raise=False)
+        except ValueError:
+            view = False
+        if view and view.exists() and view._table_name == 'ir.ui.view':
             xml1, xml2 = [], []
             xml1.append(E.separator(string=_('Application'), colspan="4"))
             for app, kind, gs in self.get_groups_by_application(cr, uid, context):
@@ -707,14 +712,6 @@ class groups_view(osv.osv):
             view.write({'arch': xml_content})
         return True
 
-    def get_user_groups_view(self, cr, uid, context=None):
-        try:
-            view = self.pool['ir.model.data'].get_object(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, 'base', 'user_groups_view', context=context, check_existence_and_raise=False)
-            assert view and view.exists() and view._table_name == 'ir.ui.view'
-        except Exception:
-            view = False
-        return view
-
     def get_application_groups(self, cr, uid, domain=None, context=None):
         return self.search(cr, uid, domain or [])