diff --git a/pySim-shell.py b/pySim-shell.py
index a8471ff5..9468444a 100755
--- a/pySim-shell.py
+++ b/pySim-shell.py
@@ -67,11 +67,17 @@ class PysimApp(cmd2.Cmd):
 		self.numeric_path = False
 		self.add_settable(cmd2.Settable('numeric_path', bool, 'Print File IDs instead of names',
 						  onchange_cb=self._onchange_numeric_path))
+		self.conserve_write = True
+		self.add_settable(cmd2.Settable('conserve_write', bool, 'Read and compare before write',
+						  onchange_cb=self._onchange_conserve_write))
 		self.update_prompt()
 
 	def _onchange_numeric_path(self, param_name, old, new):
 		self.update_prompt()
 
+	def _onchange_conserve_write(self, param_name, old, new):
+		self.rs.conserve_write = new
+
 	def update_prompt(self):
 		path_list = self.rs.selected_file.fully_qualified_path(not self.numeric_path)
 		self.prompt = 'pySIM-shell (%s)> ' % ('/'.join(path_list))
diff --git a/pySim/commands.py b/pySim/commands.py
index 9aed5882..65c38915 100644
--- a/pySim/commands.py
+++ b/pySim/commands.py
@@ -144,9 +144,17 @@ class SimCardCommands(object):
 				raise ValueError('Failed to read (offset %d)' % (offset))
 		return total_data, sw
 
-	def update_binary(self, ef, data, offset=0, verify=False):
+	def update_binary(self, ef, data, offset=0, verify=False, conserve=False):
+		data_length = len(data) // 2
+
+		# Save write cycles by reading+comparing before write
+		if conserve:
+			data_current, sw = self.read_binary(ef, data_length, offset)
+			if data_current == data:
+				return None, sw
+
 		self.select_path(ef)
-		pdu = self.cla_byte + 'd6%04x%02x' % (offset, len(data) // 2) + data
+		pdu = self.cla_byte + 'd6%04x%02x' % (offset, data_length) + data
 		res = self._tp.send_apdu_checksw(pdu)
 		if verify:
 			self.verify_binary(ef, data, offset)
@@ -163,7 +171,7 @@ class SimCardCommands(object):
 		pdu = self.cla_byte + 'b2%02x04%02x' % (rec_no, rec_length)
 		return self._tp.send_apdu(pdu)
 
-	def update_record(self, ef, rec_no, data, force_len=False, verify=False):
+	def update_record(self, ef, rec_no, data, force_len=False, verify=False, conserve=False):
 		r = self.select_path(ef)
 		if not force_len:
 			rec_length = self.__record_len(r)
@@ -171,6 +179,14 @@ class SimCardCommands(object):
 				raise ValueError('Invalid data length (expected %d, got %d)' % (rec_length, len(data) // 2))
 		else:
 			rec_length = len(data) // 2
+
+		# Save write cycles by reading+comparing before write
+		if conserve:
+			data_current, sw = self.read_record(ef, rec_no)
+			data_current = data_current[0:rec_length*2]
+			if data_current == data:
+				return None, sw
+
 		pdu = (self.cla_byte + 'dc%02x04%02x' % (rec_no, rec_length)) + data
 		res = self._tp.send_apdu_checksw(pdu)
 		if verify:
diff --git a/pySim/filesystem.py b/pySim/filesystem.py
index cd08699d..e959c525 100644
--- a/pySim/filesystem.py
+++ b/pySim/filesystem.py
@@ -566,6 +566,7 @@ class RuntimeState(object):
             self.mf.add_application(a)
         for f in self.profile.files_in_mf:
             self.mf.add_file(f)
+        self.conserve_write = True
 
     def _match_applications(self):
         """match the applications from the profile with applications on the card"""
@@ -699,7 +700,7 @@ class RuntimeState(object):
     def update_binary(self, data_hex, offset=0):
         if not isinstance(self.selected_file, TransparentEF):
             raise TypeError("Only works with TransparentEF")
-        return self.card._scc.update_binary(self.selected_file.fid, data_hex, offset)
+        return self.card._scc.update_binary(self.selected_file.fid, data_hex, offset, conserve=self.conserve_write)
 
     def update_binary_dec(self, data):
         data_hex = self.selected_file.encode_hex(data)
@@ -719,7 +720,7 @@ class RuntimeState(object):
     def update_record(self, rec_nr, data_hex):
         if not isinstance(self.selected_file, LinFixedEF):
             raise TypeError("Only works with Linear Fixed EF")
-        return self.card._scc.update_record(self.selected_file.fid, rec_nr, data_hex)
+        return self.card._scc.update_record(self.selected_file.fid, rec_nr, data_hex, conserve=self.conserve_write)
 
     def update_record_dec(self, rec_nr, data):
         hex_data = self.selected_file.encode_record_hex(data)