diff --git a/internal/cli/freshen.go b/internal/cli/freshen.go
index c2a5aa9..40cc2a4 100644
--- a/internal/cli/freshen.go
+++ b/internal/cli/freshen.go
@@ -284,7 +284,17 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		log.ProgressDone()
 	}
 
-	// Write updated manifest
+	// Print summary
+	log.Infof("freshen complete: %d unchanged, %d changed, %d added, %d removed",
+		unchanged, changed, added, removed)
+
+	// Skip writing if nothing changed
+	if changed == 0 && added == 0 && removed == 0 {
+		log.Infof("manifest unchanged, skipping write")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Write updated manifest atomically (write to temp, then rename)
 	tmpPath := manifestPath + ".tmp"
 	outFile, err := mfa.Fs.Create(tmpPath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -304,16 +314,11 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Print summary
 	totalDuration := time.Since(mfa.startupTime)
 	var hashRate float64
 	if hashedBytes > 0 {
 		hashDuration := time.Since(startHash)
 		hashRate = float64(hashedBytes) / hashDuration.Seconds() / 1e6
-	}
-	log.Infof("freshen complete: %d unchanged, %d changed, %d added, %d removed",
-		unchanged, changed, added, removed)
-	if filesToHash > 0 {
 		log.Infof("hashed %.1f MB in %.1fs (%.1f MB/s)",
 			float64(hashedBytes)/1e6, totalDuration.Seconds(), hashRate)
 	}