diff --git a/includes/config.php b/includes/config.php
index bdf1bf5..7699e3f 100644
--- a/includes/config.php
+++ b/includes/config.php
@@ -420,8 +420,8 @@ function define_customizer_fields( $wp_customize ) {
 /**
  * Disable comments and trackbacks/pingbacks on this site.
  **/
-update_option( 'default_ping_status', 'off' );
-update_option( 'default_comment_status', 'off' );
+force_option_value( 'default_ping_status', 'off' );
+force_option_value( 'default_comment_status', 'off' );
 
 
 /**
diff --git a/includes/meta.php b/includes/meta.php
index 2b14cef..b69c41c 100644
--- a/includes/meta.php
+++ b/includes/meta.php
@@ -176,5 +176,5 @@ function colleges_post_list_js_deps( $deps ) {
 
 add_filter( 'ucf_post_list_js_deps', 'colleges_post_list_js_deps', 10, 1 );
 
-update_option( 'ucf_post_list_include_js_libs', false );
-update_option( 'ucf_degree_search_include_typeahead', false );
+force_option_value( 'ucf_post_list_include_js_libs', false );
+force_option_value( 'ucf_degree_search_include_typeahead', false );
diff --git a/includes/utilities.php b/includes/utilities.php
index 46362bd..7f77356 100644
--- a/includes/utilities.php
+++ b/includes/utilities.php
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ function get_theme_mod_or_default( $theme_mod ) {
 }
 
 
-
 /**
  * Utility function that returns an image url by its thumbnail size.
  **/
@@ -58,3 +57,14 @@ function get_attachment_src_by_size( $id, $size ) {
 	}
 	return $attachment;
 }
+
+
+/**
+ * Checks if a given option is set to the provided value, and updates it
+ * if it is not
+ */
+function force_option_value( $option, $value ) {
+	if ( get_option( $option ) !== $value ) {
+		update_option( $option, $value );
+	}
+}