diff --git a/wp-includes/nav-menu.php b/wp-includes/nav-menu.php
index fd2e101c1a..7a5da9e202 100644
--- a/wp-includes/nav-menu.php
+++ b/wp-includes/nav-menu.php
@@ -347,11 +347,12 @@ function wp_update_nav_menu_item( $menu_id = 0, $menu_item_db_id = 0, $menu_item
 		'post_type' => 'nav_menu_item',
 	);
 
-	if ( $menu_id && ! is_object_in_term( $menu_item_db_id, 'nav_menu', (int) $menu->term_id ) )
-		$post['tax_input'] = array( 'nav_menu' => array( intval( $menu->term_id ) ) );
-
 	$update = 0 != $menu_item_db_id;
 
+	// Only set the menu term if it isn't set to avoid unnecessary wp_get_object_terms()
+	if ( $menu_id && ( ! $update || ! is_object_in_term( $menu_item_db_id, 'nav_menu', (int) $menu->term_id ) ) )
+		$post['tax_input'] = array( 'nav_menu' => array( intval( $menu->term_id ) ) );
+
 	// New menu item. Default is draft status
 	if ( ! $update ) {
 		$post['ID'] = 0;