diff --git a/panoptes_client/subject.py b/panoptes_client/subject.py
index 49cc28e..87ae943 100644
--- a/panoptes_client/subject.py
+++ b/panoptes_client/subject.py
@@ -215,8 +215,6 @@ def set_raw(self, raw, etag=None, loaded=True):
         super(Subject, self).set_raw(raw, etag, loaded)
         if loaded and self.metadata:
             self._original_metadata = deepcopy(self.metadata)
-        elif loaded:
-            self._original_metadata = None
 
     def subject_workflow_status(self, workflow_id):
         """