diff --git a/owa_entity.php b/owa_entity.php
index 5ba28f8c..05e3b252 100644
--- a/owa_entity.php
+++ b/owa_entity.php
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ function set($name, $value, $filter = true, $mark_dirty = true ) {
             
             $this->properties[$name]->setValue( $value );
             
-            if ( $existing_value != $value ) {
+            if ( $mark_dirty && $existing_value != $value ) {
 	            
 	            $this->markDirty( $name, $value );
             }