diff --git a/mem0/vector_stores/azure_ai_search.py b/mem0/vector_stores/azure_ai_search.py
index 4207302c..99c53454 100644
--- a/mem0/vector_stores/azure_ai_search.py
+++ b/mem0/vector_stores/azure_ai_search.py
@@ -87,7 +87,9 @@ class AzureAISearch(VectorStoreBase):
         self.search_client._client._config.user_agent_policy.add_user_agent("mem0")
         self.index_client._client._config.user_agent_policy.add_user_agent("mem0")
 
-        self.create_col()  # create the collection / index
+        collections = self.list_cols()
+        if collection_name not in collections:
+            self.create_col()
 
     def create_col(self):
         """Create a new index in Azure AI Search."""
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f476a3f0..90c77c61 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "mem0ai"
-version = "0.1.75"
+version = "0.1.76"
 description = "Long-term memory for AI Agents"
 authors = ["Mem0 <founders@mem0.ai>"]
 exclude = [