diff --git a/src/lib/edje/edje_smart.c b/src/lib/edje/edje_smart.c
index 674c7cd514..4801432ebc 100644
--- a/src/lib/edje/edje_smart.c
+++ b/src/lib/edje/edje_smart.c
@@ -466,17 +466,7 @@ edje_object_mmap_set(Edje_Object *obj, const Eina_File *file, const char *group)
 EAPI Eina_Bool
 edje_object_file_set(Edje_Object *obj, const char *file, const char *group)
 {
-   // We can't blindly unload here - this loses swallowed content (in
-   // swallows, boxes, tables etc.) ... this here along with an actual
-   // implementation of file unload broke the pager in E for starters
-   // as shading then unshading (double click titlebar) a window would
-   // lose the mini preview image obj swallowed in. also fullscreening
-   // would do it. this also broke gadget bar, the xkb gadget in it too
-   // and more... so this is a particularly bad thing break. we need to
-   // iterate over every child and re-swallow, re-pack into boxes, tables
-   // etc. because that is what edje used to do. unloading here is definitely
-   // worse ... so disable for now.
-   // efl_file_unload(obj);
+   /* mtime checking of file is handled in efl.file mixin */
    return efl_file_simple_load(obj, file, group);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/efl/interfaces/efl_file.c b/src/lib/efl/interfaces/efl_file.c
index 846c88b9db..d6f262d3e2 100644
--- a/src/lib/efl/interfaces/efl_file.c
+++ b/src/lib/efl/interfaces/efl_file.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ struct _Efl_File_Data
    Eina_Stringshare *vpath; /* efl_file_set */
    Eina_Stringshare *key; /* efl_file_key_set */
    Eina_File *file; /* efl_file_mmap_set */
+   time_t mtime;
    Eina_Bool file_opened : 1; /* if `file` was opened implicitly during load */
    Eina_Bool setting : 1; /* set when this file is internally calling methods to avoid infinite recursion */
    Eina_Bool loaded : 1; /* whether the currently set file properties have been loaded */
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ _efl_file_file_set(Eo *obj, Efl_File_Data *pd, const char *file)
    char *tmp;
    Eina_Error err = 0;
    Eina_Bool same;
+   struct stat st;
 
    tmp = (char*)(file);
    if (tmp)
@@ -98,9 +100,17 @@ _efl_file_file_set(Eo *obj, Efl_File_Data *pd, const char *file)
 
    same = !eina_stringshare_replace(&pd->vpath, tmp ?: file);
    free(tmp);
+   if (file)
+     {
+        err = stat(pd->vpath, &st);
+        if (same && (!err)) same = st.st_mtime == pd->mtime;
+     }
    if (same) return err;
+   pd->mtime = file && (!err) ? st.st_mtime : 0;
    pd->loaded = EINA_FALSE;
-   if (!pd->setting)
+   if (pd->setting)
+     err = 0; /* this is from mmap_set, which may provide a virtual file */
+   else
      {
         pd->setting = 1;
         err = efl_file_mmap_set(obj, NULL);