diff --git a/repertory/librepertory/src/db/rdb_meta_db.cpp b/repertory/librepertory/src/db/rdb_meta_db.cpp
index 2379891f..ed5c571c 100644
--- a/repertory/librepertory/src/db/rdb_meta_db.cpp
+++ b/repertory/librepertory/src/db/rdb_meta_db.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
   REPERTORY_USES_FUNCTION_NAME();
 
   try {
+    auto found{false};
+
     {
       std::string value;
       auto res = perform_action(__FUNCTION__, [&]() -> rocksdb::Status {
@@ -129,11 +131,10 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
         return res;
       }
 
-      if (value.empty()) {
-        return api_error::item_not_found;
+      found = not value.empty();
+      if (found) {
+        json_data = json::parse(value);
       }
-
-      json_data = json::parse(value);
     }
 
     {
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
         return res;
       }
       json_data[META_DIRECTORY] = value;
+      found = found || not value.empty();
     }
 
     {
@@ -157,6 +159,7 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
         return res;
       }
       json_data[META_KEY] = value;
+      found = found || not value.empty();
     }
 
     {
@@ -169,6 +172,7 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
         return res;
       }
       json_data[META_PINNED] = value;
+      found = found || not value.empty();
     }
 
     {
@@ -180,6 +184,7 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
         return res;
       }
       json_data[META_SIZE] = value;
+      found = found || not value.empty();
     }
 
     {
@@ -192,9 +197,10 @@ auto rdb_meta_db::get_item_meta_json(const std::string &api_path,
         return res;
       }
       json_data[META_SOURCE] = value;
+      found = found || not value.empty();
     }
 
-    return api_error::success;
+    return found ? api_error::success : api_error::item_not_found;
   } catch (const std::exception &e) {
     utils::error::raise_api_path_error(function_name, api_path, e,
                                        "failed to get item meta");