diff --git a/sbol2/property.py b/sbol2/property.py
index 1ae1efb..e5536e6 100644
--- a/sbol2/property.py
+++ b/sbol2/property.py
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ def __init__(self, property_owner, type_uri, reference_type_uri,
         super().__init__(property_owner, type_uri, lower_bound, upper_bound,
                          validation_rules, initial_value)
         self.reference_type_uri = reference_type_uri
-        if self._sbol_owner is not None:
+        if self._sbol_owner is None:
             property_store = []
             self._sbol_owner.properties[type_uri] = property_store
 
diff --git a/test/test_participation.py b/test/test_participation.py
index c8f8b1f..3ad5625 100644
--- a/test/test_participation.py
+++ b/test/test_participation.py
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ def test_add_remove_role(self):
         p.removeRole(1)
         self.assertEqual([sbol2.SO_PROMOTER, sbol2.SO_CDS], p.roles)
 
+    def test_init_with_participant(self):
+
+        p = sbol2.Participation('p', participant='p1')
+        self.assertEqual('p1', p.participant)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()