diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/api.py b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/api.py
index 5b035505c2..1a6507c3f6 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/api.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/api.py
@@ -292,14 +292,14 @@ class XhrLayer(View):
                 layer_source=LayerSource.TYPE_IMPORTED)
 
             # Local layer
-            if 'local_source_dir' in layer_data:
+            if ('local_source_dir' in layer_data) and layer.local_source_dir:
                 layer.local_source_dir = layer_data['local_source_dir']
             # git layer
             elif 'vcs_url' in layer_data:
                 layer.vcs_url = layer_data['vcs_url']
                 layer_version.dirpath = layer_data['dir_path']
-                layer_version.commit = layer_data['get_ref']
-                layer_version.branch = layer_data['get_ref']
+                layer_version.commit = layer_data['git_ref']
+                layer_version.branch = layer_data['git_ref']
 
             layer.save()
             layer_version.save()
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/static/js/importlayer.js b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/static/js/importlayer.js
index b3f094e69b..59652b9a36 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/static/js/importlayer.js
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/static/js/importlayer.js
@@ -176,6 +176,8 @@ function importLayerPageInit (ctx) {
           success: function (data) {
             if (data.error != "ok") {
               console.log(data.error);
+              /* let the user know why nothing happened */
+              alert(data.error)
             } else {
               createImportedNotification(data);
               window.location.replace(libtoaster.ctx.projectPageUrl);
@@ -244,9 +246,18 @@ function importLayerPageInit (ctx) {
         enable_import_btn(true);
       }
 
-      if ($("#git-repo-radio").prop("checked") &&
-          vcsURLInput.val().length > 0 && gitRefInput.val().length > 0) {
-        enable_import_btn(true);
+      if ($("#git-repo-radio").prop("checked")) {
+        if (gitRefInput.val().length > 0 &&
+            gitRefInput.val() == 'HEAD') {
+          $('#invalid-layer-revision-hint').show();
+          $('#layer-revision-ctrl').addClass('has-error');
+          enable_import_btn(false);
+        } else if (vcsURLInput.val().length > 0 &&
+                   gitRefInput.val().length > 0) {
+          $('#invalid-layer-revision-hint').hide();
+          $('#layer-revision-ctrl').removeClass('has-error');
+          enable_import_btn(true);
+        }
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/importlayer.html b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/importlayer.html
index afbeb94d42..7e5253e963 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/importlayer.html
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/importlayer.html
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@
         </label>
         <span style="display: block">
         <input type="text" class="form-control" id="layer-git-ref" autocomplete="off" data-minLength="1" data-autocomplete="off" data-provide="typeahead" required>
-        <span class="help-inline" style="display:none;" id="invalid-layer-revision-hint"></span>
         </span>
+        <span class="help-block has-error" style="display:none;" id="invalid-layer-revision-hint">The "HEAD" branch is reserved (only allowed for the "Local Yocto Project" layers)</span>
       </div>
     </fieldset>