diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/ResolveUnion.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/ResolveUnion.scala
index c0eace6052590..42d82b831ccd9 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/ResolveUnion.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/ResolveUnion.scala
@@ -139,7 +139,11 @@ object ResolveUnion extends Rule[LogicalPlan] {
     val leftChild = if (allowMissingCol) {
       // Add missing (nested) fields to left plan.
       val (leftProjectList, _) = compareAndAddFields(rightChild, left, allowMissingCol)
-      Project(leftProjectList, left)
+      if (leftProjectList.map(_.toAttribute) != left.output) {
+        Project(leftProjectList, left)
+      } else {
+        left
+      }
     } else {
       left
     }