diff --git a/daemon/backends/upower/powerdevilupowerbackend.cpp b/daemon/backends/upower/powerdevilupowerbackend.cpp
--- a/daemon/backends/upower/powerdevilupowerbackend.cpp
+++ b/daemon/backends/upower/powerdevilupowerbackend.cpp
@@ -403,7 +403,10 @@
         return -1;
     }
 
-    setBrightness(newBrightness, controlType);
+    if (newBrightness != currentBrightness) {
+        setBrightness(newBrightness, controlType);
+    }
+
     return newBrightness;
 }
 
diff --git a/daemon/powerdevilbrightnesslogic.cpp b/daemon/powerdevilbrightnesslogic.cpp
--- a/daemon/powerdevilbrightnesslogic.cpp
+++ b/daemon/powerdevilbrightnesslogic.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 int BrightnessLogic::increased() const
 {
     if (m_value == m_valueMax) {
-        return -1; // ignore, we are at the maximum
+        return m_valueMax; // we are at the maximum already
     }
 
     // Add 1 and round upwards to the nearest step