diff --git a/src/fu-engine.c b/src/fu-engine.c
index 809684894..abb5423d0 100644
--- a/src/fu-engine.c
+++ b/src/fu-engine.c
@@ -630,13 +630,8 @@ fu_engine_modify_device (FuEngine *self,
 				     "key %s not a valid flag", key);
 			return FALSE;
 		}
-		if (fu_device_has_flag (device, flag)) {
-			g_set_error_literal (error,
-					     FWUPD_ERROR,
-					     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-					     "device already has that flag");
-			return FALSE;
-		}
+		if (fu_device_has_flag (device, flag))
+			return TRUE;
 		if (flag != FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_REPORTED &&
 		    flag != FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_NOTIFIED) {
 			g_set_error (error,