diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/device_registry.py b/homeassistant/helpers/device_registry.py
index 478b29c75b2..69a3f234c22 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/device_registry.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/device_registry.py
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ class DeviceRegistry:
             device.id,
             add_config_entry_id=config_entry_id,
             hub_device_id=hub_device_id,
-            merge_connections=connections,
-            merge_identifiers=identifiers,
+            merge_connections=connections or _UNDEF,
+            merge_identifiers=identifiers or _UNDEF,
             manufacturer=manufacturer,
             model=model,
             name=name,
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ class DeviceRegistry:
                 ('identifiers', merge_identifiers),
         ):
             old_value = getattr(old, attr_name)
-            if value is not _UNDEF and value != old_value:
+            # If not undefined, check if `value` contains new items.
+            if value is not _UNDEF and not value.issubset(old_value):
                 changes[attr_name] = old_value | value
 
         for attr_name, value in (
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_device_registry.py b/tests/helpers/test_device_registry.py
index a87ad3d483a..2f203ceb963 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_device_registry.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_device_registry.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """Tests for the Device Registry."""
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
 import pytest
 
 from homeassistant.helpers import device_registry
@@ -239,3 +241,21 @@ async def test_loading_saving_data(hass, registry):
 
     assert orig_hub == new_hub
     assert orig_light == new_light
+
+
+async def test_no_unnecessary_changes(registry):
+    """Make sure we do not consider devices changes."""
+    entry = registry.async_get_or_create(
+        config_entry_id='1234',
+        connections={('ethernet', '12:34:56:78:90:AB:CD:EF')},
+        identifiers={('hue', '456'), ('bla', '123')},
+    )
+    with patch('homeassistant.helpers.device_registry'
+               '.DeviceRegistry.async_schedule_save') as mock_save:
+        entry2 = registry.async_get_or_create(
+            config_entry_id='1234',
+            identifiers={('hue', '456')},
+        )
+
+    assert entry.id == entry2.id
+    assert len(mock_save.mock_calls) == 0