diff --git a/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py b/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py
index 35b344a3a6b..e0b41585bce 100644
--- a/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py
+++ b/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py
@@ -376,13 +376,17 @@ def _object_update(self, res_type, obj):
         if not obj.uuid:
             obj.uuid = self.fq_name_to_id(res_type, obj.get_fq_name())
 
-        # Ignore fields with None value in json representation
-        json_param = json.dumps(obj, default=self._obj_serializer)
-        json_body = '{"%s":%s}' %(res_type, json_param)
+        # Generate PUT on object only if some attr was modified
+        content = None
+        if obj.get_pending_updates():
+            # Ignore fields with None value in json representation
+            json_param = json.dumps(obj, default=self._obj_serializer)
+            json_body = '{"%s":%s}' %(res_type, json_param)
+
+            id = obj.uuid
+            uri = obj_cls.resource_uri_base[res_type] + '/' + id
+            content = self._request_server(rest.OP_PUT, uri, data=json_body)
 
-        id = obj.uuid
-        uri = obj_cls.resource_uri_base[res_type] + '/' + id
-        content = self._request_server(rest.OP_PUT, uri, data=json_body)
         for ref_name in obj._pending_ref_updates:
              ref_orig = set([(x.get('uuid'),
                              tuple(x.get('to', [])), x.get('attr'))
diff --git a/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py b/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py
index a382e949edc..89d2de51c5f 100644
--- a/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py
+++ b/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py
@@ -1614,6 +1614,26 @@ def test_vmi_links_to_native_ri(self):
         logger.info("...link to Native RI done.")
     # end test_vmi_links_to_native_ri
 
+    def test_nop_on_empty_body_update(self):
+        # library api test
+        vn_fq_name = VirtualNetwork().fq_name
+        vn_obj = self._vnc_lib.virtual_network_read(fq_name=vn_fq_name)
+        mod_time = vn_obj.id_perms.last_modified
+        resp = self._vnc_lib.virtual_network_update(vn_obj)
+        self.assertIsNone(resp)
+        vn_obj = self._vnc_lib.virtual_network_read(fq_name=vn_fq_name)
+        self.assertEqual(mod_time, vn_obj.id_perms.last_modified)
+
+        # rest api test
+        listen_ip = self._api_server_ip
+        listen_port = self._api_server._args.listen_port
+        url = 'http://%s:%s/virtual-network/%s' %(
+            listen_ip, listen_port, vn_obj.uuid)
+        resp = requests.put(url)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.text, '')
+    # end test_nop_on_empty_body_update
+
 # end class TestVncCfgApiServer
 
 class TestVncCfgApiServerRequests(test_case.ApiServerTestCase):
diff --git a/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py b/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py
index 58c5fa4a94e..159b728e709 100644
--- a/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py
+++ b/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py
@@ -556,6 +556,13 @@ def http_resource_read(self, resource_type, id):
     def http_resource_update(self, resource_type, id):
         r_class = self.get_resource_class(resource_type)
         obj_type = resource_type.replace('-', '_')
+        # Early return if there is no body or an empty body
+        request = get_request()
+        if (not hasattr(request, 'json') or
+            not request.json or
+            not request.json[resource_type]):
+            return
+
         obj_dict = get_request().json[resource_type]
         try:
             self._extension_mgrs['resourceApi'].map_method(