diff --git a/dlls/teamplay_gamerules.cpp b/dlls/teamplay_gamerules.cpp
index f8a0a942..422fc636 100644
--- a/dlls/teamplay_gamerules.cpp
+++ b/dlls/teamplay_gamerules.cpp
@@ -292,7 +292,8 @@ void CHalfLifeTeamplay::ChangePlayerTeam( CBasePlayer *pPlayer, const char *pTea
 	}
 
 	// copy out the team name from the model
-	strncpy( pPlayer->m_szTeamName, pTeamName, TEAM_NAME_LENGTH );
+	if( pPlayer->m_szTeamName != pTeamName )
+		strncpy( pPlayer->m_szTeamName, pTeamName, TEAM_NAME_LENGTH );
 
 	g_engfuncs.pfnSetClientKeyValue( clientIndex, g_engfuncs.pfnGetInfoKeyBuffer( pPlayer->edict() ), "model", pPlayer->m_szTeamName );
 	g_engfuncs.pfnSetClientKeyValue( clientIndex, g_engfuncs.pfnGetInfoKeyBuffer( pPlayer->edict() ), "team", pPlayer->m_szTeamName );