diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/util.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/util.js
index 31c822313..edb348ac4 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/util.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/util.js
@@ -442,8 +442,21 @@ module.exports = {
                             // This node has a property that references a changed/removed node
                             // Assume it is a config node change and mark this node as
                             // changed.
-                            if (changed[node[prop]] || removed[node[prop]]) {
+
+                            var changeOrigin = changed[node[prop]];
+                            if (changeOrigin || removed[node[prop]]) {
                                 if (!changed[node.id]) {
+                                    if (changeOrigin &&
+                                        (prop === "g") &&
+                                        (changeOrigin.type === "group")) {
+                                        var oldNode = oldConfig.allNodes[node.id];
+                                        // ignore change of group node
+                                        // if group of this node not changed
+                                        if (oldNode &&
+                                            (node.g === oldNode.g)) {
+                                            continue;
+                                        }
+                                    }
                                     madeChange = true;
                                     changed[node.id] = node;
                                     // This node exists within subflow template