diff --git a/app/observers/users_group_observer.rb b/app/observers/users_group_observer.rb
index ecdbede89d9..42a05b5e177 100644
--- a/app/observers/users_group_observer.rb
+++ b/app/observers/users_group_observer.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@ class UsersGroupObserver < BaseObserver
   end
 
   def after_update(membership)
-    notification.update_group_member(membership)
+    notification.update_group_member(membership) if membership.group_access_changed?
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/observers/users_group_observer_spec.rb b/spec/observers/users_group_observer_spec.rb
index 3bf562edbb7..65484806b19 100644
--- a/spec/observers/users_group_observer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/observers/users_group_observer_spec.rb
@@ -23,5 +23,10 @@ describe UsersGroupObserver do
       subject.should_receive(:notification)
       @membership.update_attribute(:group_access, UsersGroup::MASTER)
     end
+
+    it "does not send an email when the access level has not changed" do
+      subject.should_not_receive(:notification)
+      @membership.update_attribute(:group_access, UsersGroup::OWNER)
+    end
   end
 end