diff --git a/apps/badgrsocialauth/providers/eduid/signals.py b/apps/badgrsocialauth/providers/eduid/signals.py
index 9afb1a6d..b757779a 100644
--- a/apps/badgrsocialauth/providers/eduid/signals.py
+++ b/apps/badgrsocialauth/providers/eduid/signals.py
@@ -28,19 +28,25 @@ def new_val_name_audit_trail(
     sender, user, old_validated_name, new_validated_name, **kwargs
 ):
     try:
-        if old_validated_name is None:
-            audit_trail = ValidatedNameAuditTrail.objects.create(
-                user=user,
-                new_validated_name=new_validated_name,
+        if not old_validated_name == new_validated_name:
+            if old_validated_name is None:
+                audit_trail = ValidatedNameAuditTrail.objects.create(
+                    user=user,
+                    new_validated_name=new_validated_name,
+                )
+            elif new_validated_name is None:
+                audit_trail = ValidatedNameAuditTrail.objects.create(
+                    user=user,
+                    old_validated_name=old_validated_name,
+                )
+            else:
+                audit_trail = ValidatedNameAuditTrail.objects.create(
+                    user=user,
+                    old_validated_name=old_validated_name,
+                    new_validated_name=new_validated_name,
+                )
+            logger.info(
+                f"val_name_audit_trail created {audit_trail.id}  for user {audit_trail.user}"
             )
-        else:
-            audit_trail = ValidatedNameAuditTrail.objects.create(
-                user=user,
-                old_validated_name=old_validated_name,
-                new_validated_name=new_validated_name,
-            )
-        logger.info(
-            f"val_name_audit_trail created {audit_trail.id}  for user {audit_trail.user}"
-        )
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error("val_name_audit_trail error: %s" % (e))