diff --git a/libraries/botbuilder-core/botbuilder/core/bot_framework_adapter.py b/libraries/botbuilder-core/botbuilder/core/bot_framework_adapter.py
index eac74917d..a6a247663 100644
--- a/libraries/botbuilder-core/botbuilder/core/bot_framework_adapter.py
+++ b/libraries/botbuilder-core/botbuilder/core/bot_framework_adapter.py
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ async def create_conversation(
             If the conversation is established with the specified users, the ID of the activity
             will contain the ID of the new conversation.
         """
+
         try:
             if not service_url:
                 service_url = reference.service_url
@@ -366,8 +367,10 @@ async def create_conversation(
             # Mix in the tenant ID if specified. This is required for MS Teams.
             if reference.conversation and reference.conversation.tenant_id:
                 # Putting tenant_id in channel_data is a temporary while we wait for the Teams API to be updated
-                parameters.channel_data = {
-                    "tenant": {"tenantId": reference.conversation.tenant_id}
+                if parameters.channel_data is None:
+                    parameters.channel_data = {}
+                parameters.channel_data["tenant"] = {
+                    "tenantId": reference.conversation.tenant_id
                 }
 
                 # Permanent solution is to put tenant_id in parameters.tenant_id