diff --git a/core/code/map_data_render.js b/core/code/map_data_render.js
index 906c7ee63..e76f5d2d9 100644
--- a/core/code/map_data_render.js
+++ b/core/code/map_data_render.js
@@ -286,6 +286,14 @@ window.Render.prototype.createPortalEntity = function(ent, details) { // details
   var data = decodeArray.portal(ent[2], details);
   var guid = ent[0];
 
+  // add missing fields
+  data.guid = guid;
+  if (!data.timestamp)
+    data.timestamp = ent[1];
+
+  // LEGACY - TO BE REMOVED AT SOME POINT! use .guid, .timestamp and .data instead
+  data.ent = ent;
+
   // check if entity already exists
   var oldPortal = guid in window.portals;
 
@@ -293,35 +301,18 @@ window.Render.prototype.createPortalEntity = function(ent, details) { // details
     // yes. now check to see if the entity data we have is newer than that in place
     var p = window.portals[guid];
 
-    if (!data.history || p.options.data.history === data.history) {
-      if (p.options.timestamp > ent[1]) {
-        return p; // this data is older - abort processing
-      }
-
-      if (p.options.timestamp == ent[1] && p.hasFullDetails()) // this data is identical - abort processing
-        return p;
+    if (!p.willUpdate(data)) {
+      // this data doesn't bring new detail - abort processing
+      return p;
     }
 
     // the data we have is newer. many data changes require re-rendering of the portal
     // (e.g. level changed, so size is different, or stats changed so highlighter is different)
 
     // remember the old details, for the callback
-    previousData = p.getDetails();
-
-    // preserve history
-    if (!data.history) {
-      data.history = previousData.history;
-    }
+    previousData = $.extend(true, {}, p.getDetails());
   }
 
-  // add missing fields
-  data.guid = guid;
-  if (!data.timestamp)
-    data.timestamp = ent[1];
-
-  // LEGACY - TO BE REMOVED AT SOME POINT! use .guid, .timestamp and .data instead
-  data.ent = ent;
-
   var latlng = L.latLng(data.latE6/1E6, data.lngE6/1E6);
 
   window.pushPortalGuidPositionCache(data.guid, data.latE6, data.lngE6);
diff --git a/core/code/portal_marker.js b/core/code/portal_marker.js
index 89274341e..987d6628c 100644
--- a/core/code/portal_marker.js
+++ b/core/code/portal_marker.js
@@ -36,14 +36,53 @@ L.PortalMarker = L.CircleMarker.extend({
     this.on('dblclick', handler_portal_dblclick);
     this.on('contextmenu', handler_portal_contextmenu);
   },
+  willUpdate: function (details) {
+    // portal location edit
+    if (this._details.latE6 !== details.latE6 || this._details.lngE6 !== details.lngE6)
+      return true;
+    // new data
+    if (this._details.timestamp < details.timestamp)
+      return true;
+    // even if we get history that was missing ? is it even possible ?
+    if (this._details.timestamp > details.timestamp)
+      return false;
+
+    // get new history
+    if (details.history) {
+      if (!this._details.history)
+        return true;
+      if (this._details.history._raw !== details.history._raw)
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // get details portal data
+    if (!this._details.mods && details.mods)
+      return true;
+
+    // does portal picture/name/location modfication update the timestamp ?
+    return false;
+  },
   updateDetails: function(details) {
     // portal has been moved
-    if (this.details)
+    if (this._details) {
       if (this._details.latE6 !== details.latE6 || this._details.lngE6 !== details.lngE6)
         this.setLatLng(L.latLng(details.latE6/1E6, details.lngE6/1E6));
 
-    // xxx: handle permanent data
-    this._details = details;
+      // we got more details
+      if (this._details.timestamp == details.timestamp) {
+        var localThis = this;
+        ["mods", "resonators", "owner", "artifactDetail", "history"].forEach(function (prop) {
+          if (details[prop]) localThis._details[prop] = details[prop];
+        });
+        // LEGACY - TO BE REMOVED AT SOME POINT! use .guid, .timestamp and .data instead
+        this._details.ent = details.ent;
+      } else {
+        // permanent data (history only)
+        if (!details.history) details.history = this._details.history;
+
+        this._details = details;
+      }
+    } else this._details = details;
 
     this._level = parseInt(details.level)||0;
     this._team = teamStringToId(details.team);