diff --git a/lib/wibox/widget/imagebox.lua b/lib/wibox/widget/imagebox.lua
index 8d38f1b1c..34d46335e 100644
--- a/lib/wibox/widget/imagebox.lua
+++ b/lib/wibox/widget/imagebox.lua
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ function imagebox:set_image(image)
         end
     end
 
+    if self._image == image then
+        return
+    end
+
     self._image = image
 
     self:emit_signal("widget::redraw_needed")