diff --git a/lib/api/users.rb b/lib/api/users.rb
index c574f042a66..8849fff60af 100644
--- a/lib/api/users.rb
+++ b/lib/api/users.rb
@@ -108,12 +108,13 @@ module API
       #   bio                               - Bio
       #   admin                             - User is admin - true or false (default)
       #   can_create_group                  - User can create groups - true or false
+      #   external                          - Is user an external user - true or false(default)
       # Example Request:
       #   PUT /users/:id
       put ":id" do
         authenticated_as_admin!
 
-        attrs = attributes_for_keys [:email, :name, :password, :skype, :linkedin, :twitter, :website_url, :projects_limit, :username, :bio, :can_create_group, :admin]
+        attrs = attributes_for_keys [:email, :name, :password, :skype, :linkedin, :twitter, :website_url, :projects_limit, :username, :bio, :can_create_group, :admin, :external]
         user = User.find(params[:id])
         not_found!('User') unless user
 
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/users_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/users_spec.rb
index 5366a7bd06b..679227bf881 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/users_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/users_spec.rb
@@ -282,6 +282,13 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
       expect(user.reload.admin).to eq(true)
     end
 
+    it "should update external status" do
+      put api("/users/#{user.id}", admin), { external: true }
+      expect(response.status).to eq 200
+      expect(json_response['external']).to eq(true)
+      expect(user.reload.external?).to be_truthy
+    end
+
     it "should not update admin status" do
       put api("/users/#{admin_user.id}", admin), { can_create_group: false }
       expect(response.status).to eq(200)