diff --git a/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeItem.cpp b/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeItem.cpp
index a6039e22d6..67464f0cc6 100644
--- a/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeItem.cpp
+++ b/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeItem.cpp
@@ -267,13 +267,21 @@ bool LayerTreeItem::isIncoming() const { return _isIncomingLayer; }
 
 bool LayerTreeItem::needsSaving() const
 {
-    if (_layer) {
-        if (!isSessionLayer() && !isReadOnly()
-            && (_isSharedStage || parentLayerItem() != nullptr)) {
-            return isDirty() || isAnonymous();
-        }
-    }
-    return false;
+    // If for any reason we don't hold a layer, then we cannot save it.
+    if (!_layer)
+        return false;
+
+    // Session layers are managed by Maya, not the Layer Editor,
+    // so their dirty state does not count.
+    if (isSessionLayer())
+        return false;
+
+    // The stage is not shared, layers are assumed to be managed
+    // somewhere else and do not get saved here.
+    if (!_isSharedStage)
+        return false;
+
+    return isDirty() || isAnonymous();
 }
 
 // delegate Action API for command buttons
diff --git a/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeView.cpp b/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeView.cpp
index 41855b8c74..561fe4ff37 100644
--- a/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeView.cpp
+++ b/lib/usd/ui/layerEditor/layerTreeView.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ void LayerTreeView::onItemDoubleClicked(const QModelIndex& index)
 {
     if (index.isValid()) {
         auto layerTreeItem = layerItemFromIndex(index);
-        if (layerTreeItem->isAnonymous()) {
+        if (layerTreeItem->needsSaving()) {
             layerTreeItem->saveEdits();
         }
     }