diff --git a/crates/db/src/catalog.rs b/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
index 392e0ad..faad1c9 100644
--- a/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
+++ b/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
@@ -188,6 +188,12 @@ pub async fn update_object(
         return Ok(false);
     };
 
+    let changes = update_changes(&old.to_input(), input);
+    if changes.is_empty() {
+        // No-op: don't touch updated_at or the audit log.
+        return Ok(true);
+    }
+
     sqlx::query(
         "UPDATE object SET \
          object_number = $2, object_name = $3, number_of_objects = $4, \
@@ -208,21 +214,17 @@ pub async fn update_object(
     .execute(&mut *conn)
     .await?;
 
-    let changes = update_changes(&old.to_input(), input);
-
-    if !changes.is_empty() {
-        audit::record(
-            &mut *conn,
-            &NewAuditEvent {
-                actor,
-                action: AuditAction::Updated,
-                entity_type: ENTITY_TYPE.to_owned(),
-                entity_id: id.to_uuid(),
-                changes,
-            },
-        )
-        .await?;
-    }
+    audit::record(
+        &mut *conn,
+        &NewAuditEvent {
+            actor,
+            action: AuditAction::Updated,
+            entity_type: ENTITY_TYPE.to_owned(),
+            entity_id: id.to_uuid(),
+            changes,
+        },
+    )
+    .await?;
 
     Ok(true)
 }