diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/newvfs/persistent/PersistentFSImpl.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/newvfs/persistent/PersistentFSImpl.java
index 30985723f2e6..9b5be541fc5b 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/newvfs/persistent/PersistentFSImpl.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/newvfs/persistent/PersistentFSImpl.java
@@ -912,14 +912,11 @@ public final class PersistentFSImpl extends PersistentFS implements Disposable {
       else {
         //just actualise the length:
         vfsPeer.updateRecordFields(fileId, record -> {
-          record.setLength(content.length);
+          boolean lengthChanged = record.setLength(content.length);
           int oldFlags = record.getFlags();
           int flags = oldFlags & ~Flags.MUST_RELOAD_LENGTH;
-
-          if (oldFlags != flags) {
-            record.setFlags(flags);
-          }
-          return true;
+          boolean flagsChanged = record.setFlags(flags);
+          return lengthChanged || flagsChanged;
         });
       }