diff --git a/spec/app/buffer-spec.coffee b/spec/app/buffer-spec.coffee
index c19b336fa..ccfbd3dd4 100644
--- a/spec/app/buffer-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/buffer-spec.coffee
@@ -337,6 +337,7 @@ describe 'Buffer', ->
         filePath = '/tmp/temp.txt'
         fs.write(filePath, "")
         saveBuffer = new Buffer filePath
+        saveBuffer.setText("blah")
 
       it "saves the contents of the buffer to the path", ->
         saveBuffer.setText 'Buffer contents!'
@@ -370,6 +371,7 @@ describe 'Buffer', ->
     describe "when the buffer has no path", ->
       it "throws an exception", ->
         saveBuffer = new Buffer
+        saveBuffer.setText "hi"
         expect(-> saveBuffer.save()).toThrow()
 
   describe "reload()", ->
diff --git a/src/app/buffer.coffee b/src/app/buffer.coffee
index 528caa2e6..5f8bc4182 100644
--- a/src/app/buffer.coffee
+++ b/src/app/buffer.coffee
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ class Buffer
     @undoManager.redo(editSession)
 
   save: ->
-    @saveAs(@getPath())
+    @saveAs(@getPath()) if @isModified()
 
   saveAs: (path) ->
     unless path then throw new Error("Can't save buffer with no file path")