diff --git a/static/scripts/galaxy.workflow_editor.canvas.js b/static/scripts/galaxy.workflow_editor.canvas.js
index 6e0550d1ccb..fb463ffc926 100644
--- a/static/scripts/galaxy.workflow_editor.canvas.js
+++ b/static/scripts/galaxy.workflow_editor.canvas.js
@@ -38,8 +38,11 @@ var OutputTerminal = Terminal.extend( {
 var InputTerminal = Terminal.extend( {
     initialize: function( attr ) {
         Terminal.prototype.initialize.call( this, attr );
-        this.datatypes = attr.datatypes;
-        this.multiple = attr.multiple;
+        this.update( attr.input );
+    },
+    update: function( input ) {
+        this.datatypes = input.extensions;
+        this.multiple = input.multiple;
     },
     canAccept: function ( other ) {
         if( this._inputFilled() ) {
@@ -981,13 +984,9 @@ var InputTerminalView = Backbone.View.extend( {
         var input = options.input;
         
         var name = input.name;
-        var types = input.extensions;
-        var multiple = input.multiple;
-
-        var terminal = this.el.terminal = new InputTerminal( { element: this.el, datatypes: types, multiple: multiple } );
+        var terminal = this.el.terminal = new InputTerminal( { element: this.el, input: input } );
         terminal.node = node;
         terminal.name = name;
-
         node.input_terminals[name] = terminal;
     },
 
diff --git a/test/qunit/tests/workflow_editor_tests.js b/test/qunit/tests/workflow_editor_tests.js
index c12231c364f..62d5fa540d6 100644
--- a/test/qunit/tests/workflow_editor_tests.js
+++ b/test/qunit/tests/workflow_editor_tests.js
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ define([
         setup: function() {
             this.node = {  };
             this.element = $( "<div>" );
-            this.input_terminal = new InputTerminal( { element: this.element, datatypes: [ "txt" ] } );
+            var input = { extensions: [ "txt" ], multiple: false };
+            this.input_terminal = new InputTerminal( { element: this.element, input: input } );
             this.input_terminal.node = this.node;
         },
         test_connector: function( attr ) {
@@ -90,6 +91,16 @@ define([
         }
     } );
 
+    test( "test update", function() {
+        deepEqual( this.input_terminal.datatypes, [ 'txt' ] );
+        equal( this.input_terminal.multiple, false );
+
+        this.input_terminal.update( { extensions: [ 'bam' ], multiple: true } );
+
+        deepEqual( this.input_terminal.datatypes, [ 'bam' ] );
+        equal( this.input_terminal.multiple, true );
+    } );
+
     test( "test connect", function() {
         this.node.markChanged = sinon.spy();