diff --git a/lib/modules/manager/bazel/update.ts b/lib/modules/manager/bazel/update.ts
index 93933e48b8627e11e1dbe33322824a178b0f7bfb..1556e2890f3f75b7d8f2920f197f5a3f09577de1 100644
--- a/lib/modules/manager/bazel/update.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/manager/bazel/update.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ function updateWithNewVersion(
   currentValue: string,
   newValue: string
 ): string {
+  // istanbul ignore if
+  if (currentValue === newValue) {
+    return content;
+  }
   const replaceFrom = currentValue.replace(regEx(/^v/), '');
   const replaceTo = newValue.replace(regEx(/^v/), '');
   let newContent = content;