1 files changed, 6 insertions, 8 deletions
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/has_many_through_association.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/has_many_through_association.rb
index 8c90aea975..c4a7fe4432 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/has_many_through_association.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/has_many_through_association.rb
@@ -38,10 +38,12 @@ module ActiveRecord
       def insert_record(record, validate = true, raise = false)
         ensure_not_nested
 
-        if raise
-          record.save!(validate: validate)
-        else
-          return unless record.save(validate: validate)
+        if record.new_record? || record.has_changes_to_save?
+          if raise
+            record.save!(validate: validate)
+          else
+            return unless record.save(validate: validate)
+          end
         end
 
         save_through_record(record)
@@ -206,10 +208,6 @@ module ActiveRecord
         def invertible_for?(record)
           false
         end
-
-        def append_record(record)
-          @target << record
-        end
     end
   end
 end