diff --git a/.github/workflows/java-autoformat.yml b/.github/workflows/java-autoformat.yml
index ee04e97c5..67afdf552 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/java-autoformat.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/java-autoformat.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run spotless
         run: ./gradlew :spotlessApply
 
+      - name: Check for modified files
+        id: git-check
+        run: echo "modified=$(if git diff-index --quiet HEAD --; then echo "false"; else echo "true"; fi)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
       - name: Create temporary branch
+        if: steps.git-check.outputs.modified == 'true'
         run: |
           git config --global user.name 'Bram van Heuveln'
           git config --global user.email 'bram28@users.noreply.github.com'
@@ -39,6 +44,7 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Open pull request
+        if: steps.git-check.outputs.modified == 'true'
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v3
         with:
           title: Automated Java code formatting changes