diff --git a/lib/config.py b/lib/config.py
index f0e75e4462e0cc678c494b007c0bd2d812a4b289..dcd6b6b329a52f42b5d4a461f4e249f525c3e195 100644
--- a/lib/config.py
+++ b/lib/config.py
@@ -319,8 +319,9 @@ class ConfigWriter:
       raise errors.ConfigurationError("Unknown instance '%s'" %
                                       instance_name)
     instance = self._config_data.instances[instance_name]
-    instance.status = status
-    self._WriteConfig()
+    if instance.status != status:
+      instance.status = status
+      self._WriteConfig()
 
   def MarkInstanceUp(self, instance_name):
     """Mark the instance status to up in the config.