diff --git a/server/sources.go b/server/sources.go
index d15f0bd88d..f6b52d84f1 100644
--- a/server/sources.go
+++ b/server/sources.go
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ func newSourceResponse(src chronograf.Source) sourceResponse {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// MetaURL is currently a string, but eventually, we'd like to change it
+	// to a slice. Checking len(src.MetaURL) is functionally equivalent to
+	// checking if it is equal to the empty string.
 	if src.Type == chronograf.InfluxEnterprise && len(src.MetaURL) != 0 {
 		res.Links.Roles = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%d/roles", httpAPISrcs, src.ID)
 	}
@@ -243,7 +246,9 @@ func (h *Service) UpdateSource(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if req.URL != "" {
 		src.URL = req.URL
 	}
-	if req.MetaURL != "" {
+	// If the supplied MetaURL is different from the
+	// one supplied on the request, update the value
+	if req.MetaURL != src.MetaURL {
 		src.MetaURL = req.MetaURL
 	}
 	if req.Type != "" {