diff --git a/gitlab/mixins.py b/gitlab/mixins.py
index 3d6e321c8..a5e996a35 100644
--- a/gitlab/mixins.py
+++ b/gitlab/mixins.py
@@ -298,6 +298,9 @@ def save(self, **kwargs):
             GitlabUpdateError: If the server cannot perform the request
         """
         updated_data = self._get_updated_data()
+        # Nothing to update. Server fails if sent an empty dict.
+        if not updated_data:
+            return
 
         # call the manager
         obj_id = self.get_id()