diff --git a/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go b/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go
index 56643a2cb2d..87a3c9cc612 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go
@@ -556,8 +556,6 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) OnServiceUpdate(allServices []api.Service) {
 	proxier.haveReceivedServiceUpdate = true
 
 	newServiceMap, hcAdd, hcDel, staleUDPServices := buildServiceMap(allServices, proxier.serviceMap)
-	proxier.serviceMap = newServiceMap
-
 	for _, hc := range hcAdd {
 		glog.V(4).Infof("Adding health check for %+v, port %v", hc.namespace, hc.nodeport)
 		// Turn on healthcheck responder to listen on the health check nodePort
@@ -572,7 +570,13 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) OnServiceUpdate(allServices []api.Service) {
 		healthcheck.DeleteServiceListener(hc.namespace, hc.nodeport)
 	}
 
-	proxier.syncProxyRules()
+	if len(newServiceMap) != len(proxier.serviceMap) || !reflect.DeepEqual(newServiceMap, proxier.serviceMap) {
+		proxier.serviceMap = newServiceMap
+		proxier.syncProxyRules()
+	} else {
+		glog.V(4).Infof("Skipping proxy iptables rule sync on service update because nothing changed")
+	}
+
 	proxier.deleteServiceConnections(staleUDPServices.List())
 }