diff --git a/src/attributes/classes.js b/src/attributes/classes.js
index 170787c83..aed8db88a 100644
--- a/src/attributes/classes.js
+++ b/src/attributes/classes.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ var rclass = /[\t\r\n\f]/g;
 
 jQuery.fn.extend({
 	addClass: function( value ) {
-		var classes, elem, cur, clazz, j,
+		var classes, elem, cur, clazz, j, finalValue,
 			i = 0,
 			len = this.length,
 			proceed = typeof value === "string" && value;
@@ -38,8 +38,12 @@ jQuery.fn.extend({
 							cur += clazz + " ";
 						}
 					}
-					elem.className = jQuery.trim( cur );
 
+					// only assign if different to avoid unneeded rendering.
+					finalValue = jQuery.trim( cur );
+					if ( elem.className !== finalValue ) {
+						elem.className = finalValue;
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ jQuery.fn.extend({
 	},
 
 	removeClass: function( value ) {
-		var classes, elem, cur, clazz, j,
+		var classes, elem, cur, clazz, j, finalValue,
 			i = 0,
 			len = this.length,
 			proceed = arguments.length === 0 || typeof value === "string" && value;
@@ -77,7 +81,12 @@ jQuery.fn.extend({
 							cur = cur.replace( " " + clazz + " ", " " );
 						}
 					}
-					elem.className = value ? jQuery.trim( cur ) : "";
+
+					// only assign if different to avoid unneeded rendering.
+					finalValue = value ? jQuery.trim( cur ) : "";
+					if ( elem.className !== finalValue ) {
+						elem.className = finalValue;
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}