diff --git a/lib/classes/record/adapter.php b/lib/classes/record/adapter.php
index 7c91e2e135..8475ff1d9c 100644
--- a/lib/classes/record/adapter.php
+++ b/lib/classes/record/adapter.php
@@ -1107,8 +1107,11 @@ class record_adapter implements RecordInterface, cache_cacheableInterface
         $this->set_xml($xml);
         unset($xml);
 
-        $this->write_metas();
-        $this->dispatch(RecordEvents::METADATA_CHANGED, new MetadataChangedEvent($this));
+        //  if there is yet subdefs, ask to write metadata
+        if (count($this->getMediaSubdefRepository()->findByRecordIdsAndNames([$this->getRecordId()])) > 1 ) {
+            $this->write_metas();
+            $this->dispatch(RecordEvents::METADATA_CHANGED, new MetadataChangedEvent($this));
+        }
 
         return $this;
     }