diff --git a/treemanifest/__init__.py b/treemanifest/__init__.py
--- a/treemanifest/__init__.py
+++ b/treemanifest/__init__.py
@@ -626,9 +626,16 @@
             # happens during amend.
             tr.addpending('treepack', writepending)
 
+            # returning False indicates there are no pending changes.
+            return False
+
         tr.addfinalize('treepack', finalize)
         tr.addabort('treepack', abort)
         tr.addpending('treepack', writepending)
+    else:
+        # Write the pending changes so any recursive calls to this method can
+        # potentially leverage on it.
+        tr.writepending()
 
     # If the manifest was already committed as a flat manifest, use
     # its node.