diff --git a/lib/java/com/google/android/material/navigation/NavigationBarMenuView.java b/lib/java/com/google/android/material/navigation/NavigationBarMenuView.java
index c3e1073c854..a78d9c8c4fa 100644
--- a/lib/java/com/google/android/material/navigation/NavigationBarMenuView.java
+++ b/lib/java/com/google/android/material/navigation/NavigationBarMenuView.java
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ public void setCheckedItem(@NonNull MenuItem checkedItem) {
       return;
     }
     // Unset the previous checked item
-    if (this.checkedItem != null) {
+    if (this.checkedItem != null && this.checkedItem.isChecked()) {
       this.checkedItem.setChecked(false);
     }
     checkedItem.setChecked(true);