diff --git a/src/fastcs/attributes/attr_r.py b/src/fastcs/attributes/attr_r.py
index ae67c6d1..3309e2a2 100644
--- a/src/fastcs/attributes/attr_r.py
+++ b/src/fastcs/attributes/attr_r.py
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ def __init__(
         )
         self._update_callback: AttrIOUpdateCallback[DType_T] | None = None
         """Callback to update the value of the attribute with an IO to the source"""
-        self._on_update_callbacks: list[AttrOnUpdateCallback[DType_T]] | None = None
+        self._on_update_callbacks: (
+            list[tuple[AttrOnUpdateCallback[DType_T], bool]] | None
+        ) = None
         """Callbacks to publish changes to the value of the attribute"""
         self._on_update_events: set[PredicateEvent[DType_T]] = set()
         """Events to set when the value satisifies some predicate"""
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ async def update(self, value: Any) -> None:
             "Attribute set", value=value, value_type=type(value), attribute=self
         )
 
+        _previous_value = self._value
         self._value = self._datatype.validate(value)
 
         self._on_update_events -= {
@@ -82,17 +85,22 @@ async def update(self, value: Any) -> None:
         }
 
         if self._on_update_callbacks is not None:
+            callbacks_to_call: list[AttrOnUpdateCallback[DType_T]] = [
+                cb
+                for cb, always in self._on_update_callbacks
+                if always or not self.datatype.equal(self._value, _previous_value)
+            ]
             try:
-                await asyncio.gather(
-                    *[cb(self._value) for cb in self._on_update_callbacks]
-                )
+                await asyncio.gather(*[cb(self._value) for cb in callbacks_to_call])
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.opt(exception=e).error(
                     "On update callbacks failed", attribute=self, value=value
                 )
                 raise
 
-    def add_on_update_callback(self, callback: AttrOnUpdateCallback[DType_T]) -> None:
+    def add_on_update_callback(
+        self, callback: AttrOnUpdateCallback[DType_T], always: bool = False
+    ) -> None:
         """Add a callback to be called when the value of the attribute is updated
 
         The callback will be called with the updated value.
@@ -100,7 +108,7 @@ def add_on_update_callback(self, callback: AttrOnUpdateCallback[DType_T]) -> Non
         """
         if self._on_update_callbacks is None:
             self._on_update_callbacks = []
-        self._on_update_callbacks.append(callback)
+        self._on_update_callbacks.append((callback, always))
 
     def set_update_callback(self, callback: AttrIOUpdateCallback[DType_T]):
         """Set the callback to update the value of the attribute from the source
diff --git a/tests/test_attributes.py b/tests/test_attributes.py
index d6472932..27025f48 100644
--- a/tests/test_attributes.py
+++ b/tests/test_attributes.py
@@ -104,10 +104,11 @@ async def update(attr: AttrR):
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_attributes():
     device = {"state": "Idle", "number": 1, "count": False}
-    ui = {"state": "", "number": 0, "count": False}
+    ui = {"state": "", "number": 0, "count": False, "update_count": 0}
 
     async def update_ui(value, key):
         ui[key] = value
+        ui["update_count"] += 1
 
     async def send(_attr, value, key):
         device[key] = value
@@ -116,9 +117,14 @@ async def device_add():
         device["number"] += 1
 
     attr_r = AttrR(String())
-    attr_r.add_on_update_callback(partial(update_ui, key="state"))
+    attr_r.add_on_update_callback(partial(update_ui, key="state"), always=False)
     await attr_r.update(device["state"])
     assert ui["state"] == "Idle"
+    # Update with new value triggers callback
+    assert ui["update_count"] == 1
+    await attr_r.update(device["state"])
+    # Identical update does not trigger callback as always=False
+    assert ui["update_count"] == 1
 
     attr_rw = AttrRW(Int())
     attr_rw._on_put_callback = partial(send, key="number")
diff --git a/tests/transports/epics/pva/test_p4p.py b/tests/transports/epics/pva/test_p4p.py
index 6c013c6e..3a1a06ac 100644
--- a/tests/transports/epics/pva/test_p4p.py
+++ b/tests/transports/epics/pva/test_p4p.py
@@ -232,8 +232,9 @@ async def _wait_and_set_attr_r():
         await controller.a.update(40_000)
         await controller.b.update(-0.99)
         await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
-        await controller.a.update(-100)
         await controller.b.update(-0.99)
+        # Identical value, so will not cause a readback update
+        await controller.a.update(-100)
         await controller.b.update(-0.9111111)
 
     a_values, b_values = [], []
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ async def _wait_and_set_attr_r():
         serve.cancel()
         wait_and_set_attr_r.cancel()
         assert a_values == [0, 40_000, -100]
-        assert b_values == [0.0, -0.99, -0.99, -0.91]  # Last is -0.91 because of prec
+        assert b_values == [0.0, -0.99, -0.91]  # Last is -0.91 because of prec
 
 
 def test_pvi_grouping():