diff --git a/pkg/router/istio.go b/pkg/router/istio.go
index 75b3701a7..0a8e65739 100644
--- a/pkg/router/istio.go
+++ b/pkg/router/istio.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
+	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -297,6 +298,14 @@ func (ir *IstioRouter) reconcileVirtualService(canary *flaggerv1.Canary) error {
 		// delegate VirtualService requires the hosts and gateway empty.
 		virtualService.Spec.Gateways = []string{}
 		virtualService.Spec.Hosts = []string{}
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(newSpec, istiov1beta1.VirtualServiceSpec{}) {
+			_, err = ir.istioClient.NetworkingV1beta1().VirtualServices(canary.Namespace).Update(context.TODO(), virtualService, metav1.UpdateOptions{})
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("VirtualService %s.%s update error: %w", apexName, canary.Namespace, err)
+			}
+			ir.logger.With("canary", fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", canary.Name, canary.Namespace)).
+				Infof("VirtualService %s.%s updated", virtualService.GetName(), canary.Namespace)
+		}
 	}
 
 	ignoreCmpOptions := []cmp.Option{