diff --git a/api/src/com/cloud/api/commands/UpdateZoneCmd.java b/api/src/com/cloud/api/commands/UpdateZoneCmd.java
index 2f2064ddc7d..75ef5246617 100644
--- a/api/src/com/cloud/api/commands/UpdateZoneCmd.java
+++ b/api/src/com/cloud/api/commands/UpdateZoneCmd.java
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ public class UpdateZoneCmd extends BaseCmd {
     @Parameter(name=ApiConstants.VLAN, type=CommandType.STRING, description="the VLAN for the Zone")
     private String vlan;
 
+    @Parameter(name=ApiConstants.IS_PUBLIC, type=CommandType.BOOLEAN, description="updates a private zone to public if set, but not vice-versa")
+    private Boolean isPublic;
+    
     /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     /////////////////// Accessors ///////////////////////
     /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -98,6 +101,9 @@ public class UpdateZoneCmd extends BaseCmd {
         return vlan;
     }
     
+    public Boolean isPublic() {
+        return isPublic;
+    }
     /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     /////////////// API Implementation///////////////////
     /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/configuration/ConfigurationManagerImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/configuration/ConfigurationManagerImpl.java
index 56c7121d044..d983c6ee6b8 100755
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/configuration/ConfigurationManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/configuration/ConfigurationManagerImpl.java
@@ -944,6 +944,7 @@ public class ConfigurationManagerImpl implements ConfigurationManager, Configura
     	Long userId = UserContext.current().getCallerUserId();
     	int startVnetRange = 0;
     	int stopVnetRange = 0;
+    	Boolean isPublic = cmd.isPublic();
     	
     	if (userId == null) {
             userId = Long.valueOf(User.UID_SYSTEM);
@@ -1053,6 +1054,12 @@ public class ConfigurationManagerImpl implements ConfigurationManager, Configura
     		zone.setVnet(vnetRange);
     	}
     	
+    	//update a private zone to public; not vice versa
+    	if(isPublic != null && isPublic) {
+    	    zone.setDomainId(null);
+    	    zone.setDomain(null);
+    	}
+    	
     	if (!_zoneDao.update(zoneId, zone)) {
     		throw new CloudRuntimeException("Failed to edit zone. Please contact Cloud Support.");
     	}