diff --git a/app/models/assets/import.rb b/app/models/assets/import.rb
index aa3fa57f..5b136ee3 100644
--- a/app/models/assets/import.rb
+++ b/app/models/assets/import.rb
@@ -119,10 +119,12 @@ def refresh(fact_changes=nil)
     end
 
     def refresh!(fact_changes=nil)
-      @import_step = Step.create(step_type: StepType.find_or_create_by(name: 'Refresh!!'), state: 'running')
-      remote_asset = SequencescapeClient::find_by_uuid(uuid)
-      raise RefreshSourceNotFoundAnymore unless remote_asset
-      _process_refresh(remote_asset, fact_changes)
+      if is_remote_asset?
+        @import_step = Step.create(step_type: StepType.find_or_create_by(name: 'Refresh!!'), state: 'running')
+        remote_asset = SequencescapeClient::find_by_uuid(uuid)
+        raise RefreshSourceNotFoundAnymore unless remote_asset
+        _process_refresh(remote_asset, fact_changes)
+      end
       self
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/assets/import_spec.rb b/spec/models/assets/import_spec.rb
index 48440ca9..4cf3cfdc 100644
--- a/spec/models/assets/import_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/assets/import_spec.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,50 @@
 RSpec.describe 'Assets::Import' do
 	include RemoteAssetsHelper
 
+
+  context '#refresh!' do
+    let(:asset) { create :asset }
+    let(:plate) { build_remote_plate }
+
+    before do
+      allow(asset).to receive(:_process_refresh)
+      allow(SequencescapeClient).to receive(:find_by_uuid).and_return(true)
+    end
+
+    context 'when it is not a remote asset' do
+      before do
+        allow(asset).to receive(:is_remote_asset?).and_return(false)
+      end
+
+      it 'does not refresh' do
+        asset.refresh!
+        expect(asset).not_to have_received(:_process_refresh)
+      end
+    end
+    context 'when it is a remote asset' do
+      before do
+        allow(asset).to receive(:is_remote_asset?).and_return(true)
+      end
+      context 'when the asset has changed' do
+        before do
+          allow(asset).to receive(:changed_remote?).and_return(true)
+        end
+        it 'refreshes the asset' do
+          asset.refresh!
+          expect(asset).to have_received(:_process_refresh)
+        end
+      end
+      context 'when the asset has not changed' do
+        before do
+          allow(asset).to receive(:changed_remote?).and_return(false)
+        end
+        it 'refreshes the asset' do
+          asset.refresh!
+          expect(asset).to have_received(:_process_refresh)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
   context '#refresh' do
     let(:asset) { create :asset }
     let(:plate) { build_remote_plate }