diff --git a/src/cairo-pattern.c b/src/cairo-pattern.c
index 81fa62ad5..064eeb6c7 100644
--- a/src/cairo-pattern.c
+++ b/src/cairo-pattern.c
@@ -1055,6 +1055,9 @@ cairo_pattern_set_matrix (cairo_pattern_t      *pattern,
     if (pattern->status)
 	return;
 
+    if (memcmp (&pattern->matrix, matrix, sizeof (cairo_matrix_t)) == 0)
+	return;
+
     pattern->matrix = *matrix;
 
     inverse = *matrix;