diff --git a/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.cpp b/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.cpp
index 0b818da61e2e..0df2da7c0560 100644
--- a/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,11 @@ QgsSensorThingsSourceWidget::QgsSensorThingsSourceWidget( QWidget *parent )
   connect( mExpansionsTable, &QTableView::clicked, this, [this]( const QModelIndex &index ) {
     if ( index.column() == QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel::Column::Actions )
     {
-      mExpansionsModel->removeRows( index.row(), 1 );
+      // only the bottom expansion (or empty rows) can be removed - otherwise we end up with inconsistent expansions!
+      if ( mExpansionsModel->canRemoveRow( index.row() ) )
+      {
+        mExpansionsModel->removeRows( index.row(), 1 );
+      }
     }
   } );
 
@@ -722,6 +726,25 @@ bool QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel::insertRows( int position, int rows, const Q
   return true;
 }
 
+bool QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel::canRemoveRow( int row ) const
+{
+  if ( row >= mExpansions.size() )
+    return true;
+
+  for ( int i = mExpansions.size() - 1; i >= 0; --i )
+  {
+    if ( row == i && mExpansions.at( i ).isValid() )
+      return true;
+
+    // when we hit the first valid expansion from the end of the list, then
+    // any earlier rows CANNOT be removed
+    if ( mExpansions.at( i ).isValid() )
+      return false;
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
 bool QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel::removeRows( int position, int rows, const QModelIndex &parent )
 {
   Q_UNUSED( parent )
@@ -957,19 +980,25 @@ void QgsSensorThingsRemoveExpansionDelegate::paint( QPainter *painter, const QSt
 {
   QStyledItemDelegate::paint( painter, option, index );
 
-  if ( index == mHoveredIndex )
+  if ( const QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel *model = qobject_cast< const QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel * >( index.model() ) )
   {
-    QStyleOptionButton buttonOption;
-    buttonOption.initFrom( option.widget );
-    buttonOption.rect = option.rect;
+    if ( model->canRemoveRow( index.row() ) )
+    {
+      if ( index == mHoveredIndex )
+      {
+        QStyleOptionButton buttonOption;
+        buttonOption.initFrom( option.widget );
+        buttonOption.rect = option.rect;
 
-    option.widget->style()->drawControl( QStyle::CE_PushButton, &buttonOption, painter );
-  }
+        option.widget->style()->drawControl( QStyle::CE_PushButton, &buttonOption, painter );
+      }
 
-  const QIcon icon = QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconClearItem.svg" );
-  const QRect iconRect( option.rect.left() + ( option.rect.width() - 16 ) / 2, option.rect.top() + ( option.rect.height() - 16 ) / 2, 16, 16 );
+      const QIcon icon = QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconClearItem.svg" );
+      const QRect iconRect( option.rect.left() + ( option.rect.width() - 16 ) / 2, option.rect.top() + ( option.rect.height() - 16 ) / 2, 16, 16 );
 
-  icon.paint( painter, iconRect );
+      icon.paint( painter, iconRect );
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 void QgsSensorThingsRemoveExpansionDelegate::setHoveredIndex( const QModelIndex &index )
diff --git a/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.h b/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.h
index 9ff8febac80f..9386b2a4e118 100644
--- a/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.h
+++ b/src/gui/providers/sensorthings/qgssensorthingssourcewidget.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class QgsSensorThingsExpansionsModel : public QAbstractItemModel
     QVariant headerData( int section, Qt::Orientation orientation, int role = Qt::DisplayRole ) const override;
     bool setData( const QModelIndex &index, const QVariant &value, int role ) override;
     bool insertRows( int position, int rows, const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex() ) override;
+    bool canRemoveRow( int row ) const;
     bool removeRows( int position, int rows, const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex() ) override;
 
     void setExpansions( const QList<QgsSensorThingsExpansionDefinition> &expansions );