Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/history/HistoryBrowser.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/history/HistoryBrowser.java	(revision 16590)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/history/HistoryBrowser.java	(revision 16591)
@@ -7,4 +7,5 @@
 import java.awt.Dimension;
 import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Objects;
 
 import javax.swing.JPanel;
@@ -114,5 +115,10 @@
      */
     public void populate(History history) {
+        boolean samePrimitive = model.getHistory() != null && Objects.equals(model.getHistory().getPrimitiveId(), history.getPrimitiveId());
         model.setHistory(history);
+        if (samePrimitive) {
+            // no need to rebuild the UI
+            return;
+        }
 
         tpViewers.removeAll();