diff --git a/app/models/doi.rb b/app/models/doi.rb
index 2026b3659..06f12949e 100644
--- a/app/models/doi.rb
+++ b/app/models/doi.rb
@@ -2112,6 +2112,7 @@ def set_defaults
     self.is_active = (aasm_state == "findable") ? "\x01" : "\x00"
     self.version = version.present? ? version + 1 : 1
     self.updated = Time.zone.now.utc.iso8601
+    self.source = "api" if source.blank?
   end
 
   def update_agency