diff --git a/library/Director/Data/Db/DbObjectWithSettings.php b/library/Director/Data/Db/DbObjectWithSettings.php
index 781bddf7..88702be0 100644
--- a/library/Director/Data/Db/DbObjectWithSettings.php
+++ b/library/Director/Data/Db/DbObjectWithSettings.php
@@ -44,7 +44,12 @@ abstract class DbObjectWithSettings extends DbObject
 
     public function setSettings($settings)
     {
-        $this->settings = (array) $settings;
+        $settings = (array) $settings;
+        ksort($settings);
+        if ($settings !== $this->settings) {
+            $this->settings = $settings;
+            $this->hasBeenModified = true;
+        }
 
         return $this;
     }
diff --git a/library/Director/Objects/IcingaObject.php b/library/Director/Objects/IcingaObject.php
index 54484060..30bcf244 100644
--- a/library/Director/Objects/IcingaObject.php
+++ b/library/Director/Objects/IcingaObject.php
@@ -1086,16 +1086,17 @@ abstract class IcingaObject extends DbObject implements IcingaConfigRenderer
 
     public function getVars()
     {
-        $vars = (object) array();
+        $vars = [];
         foreach ($this->vars() as $key => $var) {
             if ($var->hasBeenDeleted()) {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            $vars->$key = $var->getValue();
+            $vars[$key] = $var->getValue();
         }
+        ksort($vars);
 
-        return $vars;
+        return (object) $vars;
     }
 
     /**