diff --git a/docs/deployment/methods/git.md b/docs/deployment/methods/git.md
index 1bfd498a44d..eb46b32610d 100644
--- a/docs/deployment/methods/git.md
+++ b/docs/deployment/methods/git.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ git:from-archive [--archive-type ARCHIVE_TYPE] <app> <archive-url> [<git-usernam
 git:from-image [--build-dir DIRECTORY] <app> <docker-image> [<git-username> <git-email>] # Updates an app's git repository with a given docker image
 git:generate-deploy-key                           # Generates a deploy ssh key
 git:load-image [--build-dir DIRECTORY] <app> <docker-image> [<git-username> <git-email>] # Updates an app's git repository with a docker image loaded from stdin
-git:sync [--build] <app> <repository> [<git-ref>] # Clone or fetch an app from remote git repo
+git:sync [--build|build-if-changes] <app> <repository> [<git-ref>] # Clone or fetch an app from remote git repo
 git:initialize <app>                              # Initialize a git repository for an app
 git:public-key                                    # Outputs the dokku public deploy key
 git:report [<app>] [<flag>]                       # Displays a git report for one or more apps
@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ By default, this command does not trigger an application build. To do so during
 dokku git:sync --build node-js-app https://github.com/heroku/node-js-getting-started.git
 ```
 
+When running `git:sync` without a reference, it may be useful to only build when there are changes. To do so, specify the `--build-if-changes` flag.
+
+```shell
+dokku git:sync --build-if-changes node-js-app https://github.com/heroku/node-js-getting-started.git
+```
+
 ### Initializing from private repositories
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
diff --git a/plugins/git/internal-functions b/plugins/git/internal-functions
index 8ce59e82fbf..9675cb1e699 100755
--- a/plugins/git/internal-functions
+++ b/plugins/git/internal-functions
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ cmd-git-sync() {
   local cmd="git:sync"
   [[ "$1" == "$cmd" ]] && shift 1
   declare APP GIT_REMOTE GIT_REF FLAG
+  local CURRENT_REF DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH SHOULD_BUILD UPDATED_REF
 
   ARGS=()
   for arg in "$@"; do
@@ -187,6 +188,11 @@ cmd-git-sync() {
       continue
     fi
 
+    if [[ "$arg" == "--build-if-changes" ]]; then
+      FLAG="--build-if-changes"
+      continue
+    fi
+
     ARGS+=("$arg")
   done
 
@@ -202,6 +208,10 @@ cmd-git-sync() {
   fi
 
   local APP_ROOT="$DOKKU_ROOT/$APP"
+
+  DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH="$(fn-git-deploy-branch "$APP")"
+  CURRENT_REF="$(fn-git-cmd "$APP_ROOT" rev-parse "$DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+
   if [[ "$(fn-git-cmd "$APP_ROOT" count-objects)" == "0 objects, 0 kilobytes" ]]; then
     dokku_log_info1_quiet "Cloning $APP from $GIT_REMOTE#$GIT_REF"
     fn-git-clone "$APP" "$GIT_REMOTE" "$GIT_REF"
@@ -209,7 +219,20 @@ cmd-git-sync() {
     fn-git-fetch "$APP" "$GIT_REMOTE" "$GIT_REF"
   fi
 
+  UPDATED_REF="$(fn-git-cmd "$APP_ROOT" rev-parse "$DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  local SHOULD_BUILD=false
   if [[ "$FLAG" == "--build" ]]; then
+    SHOULD_BUILD=true
+  elif [[ "$FLAG" == "--build-if-changes" ]]; then
+    if [[ "$CURRENT_REF" == "$UPDATED_REF" ]]; then
+      dokku_log_verbose "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+      return
+    fi
+
+    SHOULD_BUILD=true
+  fi
+
+  if [[ "$SHOULD_BUILD" == "true" ]]; then
     if [[ -n "$GIT_REF" ]]; then
       GIT_REF="$(fn-git-cmd "$APP_ROOT" rev-parse "$GIT_REF")"
       plugn trigger receive-app "$APP" "$GIT_REF"
diff --git a/tests/unit/git_3.bats b/tests/unit/git_3.bats
index 1cec5559657..042431ff6f7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/git_3.bats
+++ b/tests/unit/git_3.bats
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 load test_helper
 
+SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA=9cf71bba639c4f1671dfd42685338b762d3354f2
+SMOKE_TEST_APP_2_0_0_SHA=5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9
+SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA=5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9
+SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA=af1b02052199b8ca8115f80ff8676a7c7744a45f
+SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA=5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9
+
 setup() {
   global_setup
   create_app
@@ -121,6 +127,12 @@ teardown() {
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--no-build branch]" {
@@ -128,6 +140,12 @@ teardown() {
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/another-branch"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--no-build tag]" {
@@ -135,13 +153,25 @@ teardown() {
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--no-build commit]" {
-  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9"
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git $SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--build noarg]" {
@@ -150,6 +180,24 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--build branch]" {
@@ -158,6 +206,24 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/another-branch"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git another-branch"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/another-branch"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--build tag]" {
@@ -166,14 +232,50 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 1.0.0"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync new [--build commit]" {
-  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9"
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git $SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git $SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [errors]" {
@@ -209,10 +311,22 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
   run /bin/bash -c "dokku --trace git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--no-build branch]" {
@@ -221,10 +335,22 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
   run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git another-branch"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/another-branch"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--no-build tag]" {
@@ -233,10 +359,22 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
   run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 2.0.0"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_2_0_0_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--no-build commit]" {
@@ -245,10 +383,22 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
-  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9"
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git $SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--build noarg]" {
@@ -257,11 +407,35 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
   run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_MASTER_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--build branch]" {
@@ -270,11 +444,35 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_2_0_0_SHA"
+
   run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git another-branch"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git another-branch"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_ANOTHER_BRANCH_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--build tag]" {
@@ -283,11 +481,35 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
   run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 2.0.0"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_2_0_0_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 2.0.0"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_2_0_0_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync existing [--build commit]" {
@@ -296,11 +518,35 @@ teardown() {
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
 
-  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git 5c8a5e42bbd7fae98bd657fb17f41c6019b303f9"
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_1_0_0_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git $SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
   assert_output_contains "Application deployed"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app.git $SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "cat /home/dokku/$TEST_APP/refs/heads/master"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "$SMOKE_TEST_APP_COMMIT_SHA"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:sync private" {
@@ -328,6 +574,12 @@ teardown() {
   echo "output: $output"
   echo "status: $status"
   assert_success
+
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:sync --build-if-changes $TEST_APP https://github.com/dokku/smoke-test-app-private.git"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+  assert_output_contains "Skipping build as no changes were detected"
 }
 
 @test "(git) git:public-key" {