diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs
index 2fb7ab80..4fcf20f5 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs
@@ -338,8 +338,14 @@ impl StorageManager {
         let schema = descriptor.schema()?;
 
         // Make new subkey data
-        let value_data = if let Some(signed_value_data) = last_subkey_result.value {
-            let seq = signed_value_data.value_data().seq();
+        let value_data = if let Some(last_signed_value_data) = last_subkey_result.value {
+            if last_signed_value_data.value_data().data() == &data
+                && last_signed_value_data.value_data().writer() == &writer.key
+            {
+                // Data and writer is the name, nothing is changing, just return the same ValueData
+                return Ok(Some(last_signed_value_data.into_value_data()));
+            }
+            let seq = last_signed_value_data.value_data().seq();
             ValueData::new_with_seq(seq + 1, data, writer.key)
         } else {
             ValueData::new(data, writer.key)
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs
index 5222f89a..74e50181 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ impl StorageManager {
                         if new_seq > prior_seq {
                             // If the sequence number is greater, keep it
                             ctx.value = value;
-                            // One node has show us this value so far
+                            // One node has shown us this value so far
                             ctx.value_count = 1;
                         } else {
                             // If the sequence number is older, or an equal sequence number, 
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ impl StorageManager {
 
         // Make sure this value would actually be newer
         if let Some(last_value) = &last_subkey_result.value {
-            if value.value_data().seq() < last_value.value_data().seq() {
-                // inbound value is older than the one we have, just return the one we have
+            if value.value_data().seq() <= last_value.value_data().seq() {
+                // inbound value is older or equal sequence number than the one we have, just return the one we have
                 return Ok(NetworkResult::value(Some(last_value.clone())));
             }
         }
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_dht.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_dht.py
index afeccb42..36a2f1c6 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/test_dht.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_dht.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ async def test_open_writer_dht_value(api_connection: veilid.VeilidAPI):
         key = rec.key
         owner = rec.owner
         secret = rec.owner_secret
+        print(f"key:{key}")
 
         cs = await api_connection.get_crypto_system(veilid.CryptoKind.CRYPTO_KIND_VLD0)
         async with cs:
@@ -101,29 +102,30 @@ async def test_open_writer_dht_value(api_connection: veilid.VeilidAPI):
         vb = b"1234567890"
         vc = b"!@#$%^&*()"
 
+        # Test subkey writes
         vdtemp = await rc.set_dht_value(key, 1, va)
         assert vdtemp != None
         assert vdtemp.data == va
         assert vdtemp.seq == 0
         assert vdtemp.writer == owner
 
-        # Test subkey writes
         vdtemp = await rc.get_dht_value(key, 1, False)
-        assert vdtemp == va
+        assert vdtemp.data == va
+        assert vdtemp.seq == 0
+        assert vdtemp.writer == owner
 
         vdtemp = await rc.get_dht_value(key, 0, False)
-        assert vdtemp.data == b""
-        assert vdtemp.seq == 1
+        assert vdtemp == None
 
         vdtemp = await rc.set_dht_value(key, 0, vb)
-        assert vdtemp == vb
-        assert vdtemp.seq == 2
+        assert vdtemp.data == vb
+        assert vdtemp.seq == 0
 
         vdtemp = await rc.get_dht_value(key, 0, True)
-        assert vdtemp == vb
+        assert vdtemp.data == vb
 
         vdtemp = await rc.get_dht_value(key, 1, True)
-        assert vdtemp == va
+        assert vdtemp.data == va
 
         # Equal value should not trigger sequence number update
         vdtemp = await rc.set_dht_value(key, 1, va)
@@ -155,14 +157,21 @@ async def test_open_writer_dht_value(api_connection: veilid.VeilidAPI):
         assert rec.schema.kind == veilid.DHTSchemaKind.DFLT
         assert rec.schema.o_cnt == 2
 
-        # Verify subkey 1 can be set before it is get (should auto-get)
-        vdtemp = await rec.set_dht_value(key, 1, vc)
+        # Verify subkey 1 can be set before it is get but newer is available online
+        vdtemp = await rc.set_dht_value(key, 1, vc)
+        assert vdtemp != None
+        assert vdtemp.data == vb
+        assert vdtemp.seq == 1
+        assert vdtemp.writer == owner
+
+        # Verify subkey 1 can be set a second time and it updates because seq is newer
+        vdtemp = await rc.set_dht_value(key, 1, vc)
         assert vdtemp != None
         assert vdtemp.data == vc
         assert vdtemp.seq == 2
         assert vdtemp.writer == owner
         
-        # Verify the network got the subkey update
+        # Verify the network got the subkey update with a refresh check
         vdtemp = await rc.get_dht_value(key, 1, True)
         assert vdtemp != None
         assert vdtemp.data == vc
@@ -194,7 +203,7 @@ async def test_open_writer_dht_value(api_connection: veilid.VeilidAPI):
         vdtemp = await rec.set_dht_value(key, 0, va)
         assert vdtemp != None
         assert vdtemp.data == vb
-        assert vdtemp.seq == 2
+        assert vdtemp.seq == 1
         assert vdtemp.writer == owner
         
         # Clean up
diff --git a/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py b/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py
index 1b75d061..8138cf57 100644
--- a/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py
+++ b/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py
@@ -150,8 +150,6 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
                 # Parse line as ndjson
                 j = json.loads(linebytes.strip())
 
-                print(f"linebytes: {linebytes}")
-
                 if self.validate_schema:
                     _schema_validate(_VALIDATOR_RECV_MESSAGE, j)