diff --git a/glue/core/data.py b/glue/core/data.py
index a06297c22..178e43d4c 100644
--- a/glue/core/data.py
+++ b/glue/core/data.py
@@ -124,9 +124,10 @@ def coords(self):
 
     @coords.setter
     def coords(self, value):
-        self._coords = value
-        if len(self.components) > 0:
-            self._update_world_components(self.ndim)
+        if (hasattr(self, '_coords') and self._coords != value) or not hasattr(self, '_coords'):
+            self._coords = value
+            if len(self.components) > 0:
+                self._update_world_components(self.ndim)
 
     @property
     def subsets(self):
diff --git a/glue/viewers/matplotlib/qt/tests/test_data_viewer.py b/glue/viewers/matplotlib/qt/tests/test_data_viewer.py
index 55167d166..846776a97 100644
--- a/glue/viewers/matplotlib/qt/tests/test_data_viewer.py
+++ b/glue/viewers/matplotlib/qt/tests/test_data_viewer.py
@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@ def test_numerical_data_changed(self):
         self.viewer.add_data(self.data)
         assert self.draw_count == 1
         data = Data()
+        data.coords = self.data.coords
         for cid in self.data.visible_components:
             data.add_component(self.data[cid] * 2, cid.label)
         self.data.update_values_from_data(data)