diff --git a/utils/gn/build/sync_source_lists_from_cmake.py b/utils/gn/build/sync_source_lists_from_cmake.py
index bd321d15c7f..5063f71a826 100755
--- a/utils/gn/build/sync_source_lists_from_cmake.py
+++ b/utils/gn/build/sync_source_lists_from_cmake.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def sync_source_lists(write):
         else:
             print()
 
-    return bool(changes_by_rev)
+    return bool(changes_by_rev) and not write
 
 
 def sync_unittests():