diff --git a/app/models/metacode.rb b/app/models/metacode.rb
index b404ad5f..a545a428 100644
--- a/app/models/metacode.rb
+++ b/app/models/metacode.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Metacode < ActiveRecord::Base
   #output json with asset_paths merged in
   def as_json(options)
     json = super(options.merge!(methods: :asset_path_icon))
-    json["icon"] = json["asset_path_icon"]
+    json["icon"] = json["asset_path_icon"] if json["icon"].start_with?('http')
     json.except("asset_path_icon")
   end
 end