diff --git a/libraries/docker_swarm_service.rb b/libraries/docker_swarm_service.rb
index e06d51fc6a..56eb733db7 100644
--- a/libraries/docker_swarm_service.rb
+++ b/libraries/docker_swarm_service.rb
@@ -68,17 +68,16 @@ def whyrun_supported?
 
     action :update do
       ensure_swarm_available!
-      converge_by('Update service') { update_service }
+      if current_service_changed?
+        converge_by('Update service') { update_service }
+      end
     end
 
     action :force_update do
       ensure_swarm_available!
-      converge_by('Update service [forced]') { update_service(true) }
-    end
-
-    action :restart do
-      ensure_swarm_available!
-      converge_by('Restart service') { restart_service }
+      converge_by('Update service [forced]') do
+        update_service(true)
+      end
     end
 
     action :destroy do
diff --git a/libraries/helpers_swarm_service.rb b/libraries/helpers_swarm_service.rb
index 2079550a71..432a9d1872 100644
--- a/libraries/helpers_swarm_service.rb
+++ b/libraries/helpers_swarm_service.rb
@@ -29,25 +29,29 @@ def current_service_changed?
         current_spec != new_spec
       end
 
+      def current_force_update_counter
+        current_spec = current_service.hash['Spec']
+        current_spec['TaskTemplate']['ForceUpdate'] || 0
+      end
+
+
       def create_service
         current_swarm.create_service(service_spec)
       end
 
       def update_service(force = false)
-        spec = service_spec
+        spec = service_spec.deep_dup
 
         if force
-          spec = service_spec.deep_dup
-          spec['TaskTemplate']['ForceUpdate'] = 1
+            # For the update to be forced, you need to change the ForceUpdate
+            # counter. We're wrapping to avoid overflow, although unlikely
+          force_update = current_force_update_counter + 1 % 1000
+          spec['TaskTemplate']['ForceUpdate'] = force_update
         end
 
         current_service.update(spec)
       end
 
-      def restart_service
-        current_service.restart
-      end
-
       def service_spec
         spec = {
           'Name' => name,