diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-vc.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-vc.el
index e9794eac783..b967aaa3d4d 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-vc.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-vc.el
@@ -507,9 +507,10 @@ package-vc--unpack-1
         (package--reload-previously-loaded new-desc)))
 
     ;; Mark package as selected
-    (package--save-selected-packages
-     (cons (package-desc-name pkg-desc)
-           package-selected-packages))
+    (let ((name (package-desc-name pkg-desc)))
+      (unless (memq name package-selected-packages)
+        (package--save-selected-packages
+         (cons name package-selected-packages))))
     (package--quickstart-maybe-refresh)
 
     ;; Confirm that the installation was successful