diff --git a/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py b/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py
index 34aff50..6063282 100644
--- a/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py
+++ b/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py
@@ -82,7 +82,16 @@
 
         # validate c_tag
         if hasattr(self, 'c_tag') and self.c_tag is not None:
-            if self.c_tag in self.get_used_c_tags():
+            is_update_with_same_tag = False
+
+            if not self.is_new:
+                # if it is an update, but the tag is the same, skip validation
+                existing = RCORDSubscriber.objects.filter(c_tag=self.c_tag)
+
+                if len(existing) > 0 and existing[0].c_tag == self.c_tag and existing[0].id == self.id:
+                    is_update_with_same_tag = True
+
+            if self.c_tag in self.get_used_c_tags() and not is_update_with_same_tag:
                 raise XOSValidationError("The c_tag you specified (%s) has already been used on device %s" % (self.c_tag, self.onu_device))
 
         if not hasattr(self, "c_tag") or self.c_tag is None:
diff --git a/xos/synchronizer/models/test_models.py b/xos/synchronizer/models/test_models.py
index bb2a469..1f7186a 100644
--- a/xos/synchronizer/models/test_models.py
+++ b/xos/synchronizer/models/test_models.py
@@ -50,8 +50,10 @@
         self.rcord_subscriber_class = RCORDSubscriber
 
         self.rcord_subscriber = RCORDSubscriber()
+        self.rcord_subscriber.id = None # this is a new model
+        self.rcord_subscriber.is_new = True
         self.rcord_subscriber.onu_device = "BRCM1234"
-        self.rcord_subscriber.c_tag = "111"
+        self.rcord_subscriber.c_tag = 111
         self.rcord_subscriber.ip_address = "1.1.1.1"
         self.rcord_subscriber.mac_address = "00:AA:00:00:00:01"
         self.rcord_subscriber.owner.leaf_model.access = "voltha"
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@
         """
 
         s = Mock()
-        s.c_tag = "111"
+        s.c_tag = 111
         s.onu_device = "BRCM1234"
 
         self.models_decl.RCORDSubscriber_decl.objects.filter.return_value = [s]
@@ -107,6 +109,36 @@
         self.assertEqual(e.exception.message, "The c_tag you specified (111) has already been used on device BRCM1234")
         self.models_decl.RCORDSubscriber_decl.save.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_validate_c_tag_on_update(self):
+        s = Mock()
+        s.c_tag = 111
+        s.onu_device = "BRCM1234"
+        s.id = 1
+
+        self.models_decl.RCORDSubscriber_decl.objects.filter.return_value = [s]
+
+        self.rcord_subscriber.is_new = False
+        self.rcord_subscriber.id = 1
+        self.rcord_subscriber.save()
+
+        self.models_decl.RCORDSubscriber_decl.save.assert_called()
+
+    def test_validate_c_tag_on_update_fail(self):
+        s = Mock()
+        s.c_tag = 222
+        s.onu_device = "BRCM1234"
+        s.id = 2
+
+        self.models_decl.RCORDSubscriber_decl.objects.filter.return_value = [s]
+
+        self.rcord_subscriber.id = 1
+        self.rcord_subscriber.is_new = False
+        self.rcord_subscriber.c_tag = 222
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception) as e:
+            self.rcord_subscriber.save()
+
+        self.assertEqual(e.exception.message, "The c_tag you specified (222) has already been used on device BRCM1234")
+        self.models_decl.RCORDSubscriber_decl.save.assert_not_called()
 
     def test_generate_c_tag(self):
         s = Mock()