diff --git a/util/sponsor/auth.go b/util/sponsor/auth.go
index e7e9a08ef..6cdf45393 100644
--- a/util/sponsor/auth.go
+++ b/util/sponsor/auth.go
@@ -17,10 +17,16 @@ var (
 	ExpiresAt      time.Time
 )
 
+const unavailable = "sponsorship unavailable"
+
 func IsAuthorized() bool {
 	return len(Subject) > 0
 }
 
+func IsAuthorizedForApi() bool {
+	return IsAuthorized() && Subject != unavailable
+}
+
 // check and set sponsorship token
 func ConfigureSponsorship(token string) error {
 	host := util.Getenv("GRPC_URI", cloud.Host)
@@ -43,7 +49,7 @@ func ConfigureSponsorship(token string) error {
 
 	if err != nil {
 		if s, ok := status.FromError(err); ok && s.Code() != codes.Unknown {
-			Subject = "sponsorship unavailable"
+			Subject = unavailable
 			err = nil
 		} else {
 			err = fmt.Errorf("sponsortoken: %w", err)
diff --git a/util/telemetry/charge.go b/util/telemetry/charge.go
index 2822a2c55..fc51f9a4e 100644
--- a/util/telemetry/charge.go
+++ b/util/telemetry/charge.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ var (
 
 func Enabled() bool {
 	enabled, _ := settings.Bool(enabledSetting)
-	return enabled && sponsor.IsAuthorized() && instanceID != ""
+	return enabled && sponsor.IsAuthorizedForApi() && instanceID != ""
 }
 
 func Enable(enable bool) error {