diff --git a/pw_spi_linux/public/pw_spi_linux/spi.h b/pw_spi_linux/public/pw_spi_linux/spi.h
index 1b15840f12..70edc44613 100644
--- a/pw_spi_linux/public/pw_spi_linux/spi.h
+++ b/pw_spi_linux/public/pw_spi_linux/spi.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <optional>
 
 #include "pw_bytes/span.h"
 #include "pw_spi/chip_selector.h"
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ class LinuxInitiator : public Initiator {
  private:
   uint32_t max_speed_hz_;
   int fd_;
+  std::optional<Config> current_config_;
 };
 
 // Linux userspace implementation of SPI ChipSelector
diff --git a/pw_spi_linux/spi.cc b/pw_spi_linux/spi.cc
index fc482de350..92175f3536 100644
--- a/pw_spi_linux/spi.cc
+++ b/pw_spi_linux/spi.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ LinuxInitiator::~LinuxInitiator() {
 }
 
 Status LinuxInitiator::Configure(const Config& config) {
+  if (current_config_ == config) {
+    // Don't waste time issuing ioctls if the config is not actually changing.
+    return OkStatus();
+  }
+
   // Map clock polarity/phase to Linux userspace equivalents
   uint32_t mode = 0;
   if (config.polarity == ClockPolarity::kActiveLow) {
@@ -70,6 +75,7 @@ Status LinuxInitiator::Configure(const Config& config) {
     return Status::InvalidArgument();
   }
 
+  current_config_ = config;
   return OkStatus();
 }