diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp
index bd24e173..d6481a10 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp
@@ -160,8 +160,9 @@ void DirBlob::statChildWithSizeAlreadySet(const Key &key, struct ::stat *result)
 
 void DirBlob::updateAccessTimestampForChild(const Key &key, TimestampUpdateBehavior timestampUpdateBehavior) {
   std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(_mutex);
-  _entries.updateAccessTimestampForChild(key, timestampUpdateBehavior);
-  _changed = true;
+  if (_entries.updateAccessTimestampForChild(key, timestampUpdateBehavior)) {
+    _changed = true;
+  }
 }
 
 void DirBlob::updateModificationTimestampForChild(const Key &key) {
diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp
index ab40c938..51f2401a 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ void DirEntryList::setAccessTimes(const blockstore::Key &key, timespec lastAcces
     found->setLastModificationTime(lastModificationTime);
 }
 
-void DirEntryList::updateAccessTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key, TimestampUpdateBehavior timestampUpdateBehavior) {
+bool DirEntryList::updateAccessTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key, TimestampUpdateBehavior timestampUpdateBehavior) {
     ASSERT(timestampUpdateBehavior == TimestampUpdateBehavior::RELATIME, "Currently only relatime supported");
     auto found = _findByKey(key);
     const timespec lastAccessTime = found->lastAccessTime();
@@ -238,8 +238,12 @@ void DirEntryList::updateAccessTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key, Tim
         .tv_sec = now.tv_sec - 60*60*24,
         .tv_nsec = now.tv_nsec
     };
-    if (lastAccessTime < lastModificationTime || lastAccessTime < yesterday)
-    found->setLastAccessTime(now);
+    bool changed = false;
+    if (lastAccessTime < lastModificationTime || lastAccessTime < yesterday) {
+        found->setLastAccessTime(now);
+        changed = true;
+    }
+    return changed;
 }
 
 void DirEntryList::updateModificationTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key) {
diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.h b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.h
index 9df2325b..a3973263 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.h
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace cryfs {
             void setMode(const blockstore::Key &key, mode_t mode);
             bool setUidGid(const blockstore::Key &key, uid_t uid, gid_t gid);
             void setAccessTimes(const blockstore::Key &key, timespec lastAccessTime, timespec lastModificationTime);
-            void updateAccessTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key, TimestampUpdateBehavior timestampUpdateBehavior);
+            bool updateAccessTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key, TimestampUpdateBehavior timestampUpdateBehavior);
             void updateModificationTimestampForChild(const blockstore::Key &key);
 
         private: