diff --git a/fsl/data/image.py b/fsl/data/image.py
index f2a7374742be057111758ae9e90dfe132141c01d..96d918e5ca2bd7643168340b7fa62b9379bffefb 100644
--- a/fsl/data/image.py
+++ b/fsl/data/image.py
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ class Nifti(notifier.Notifier, meta.Meta):
     def intent(self, val):
         """Sets the NIFTI intent code of this image. """
         # analyze has no intent
-        if self.niftiVersion > 0:
+        if (self.niftiVersion > 0) and (val != self.intent):
             self.header.set_intent(val, allow_unknown=True)
             self.notify(topic='header')