diff --git a/assignments/assignment.go b/assignments/assignment.go
index 31e37be..23ae179 100644
--- a/assignments/assignment.go
+++ b/assignments/assignment.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package assignments
 
 import (
 	"github.com/Graylog2/collector-sidecar/common"
+	"reflect"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -59,7 +60,11 @@ func (as *assignmentStore) AssignedBackendIds() []string {
 	return result
 }
 
-func (as *assignmentStore) Update(assignments []ConfigurationAssignment) {
+func (as *assignmentStore) Update(assignments []ConfigurationAssignment) bool {
+	beforeUpdate := make(map[string]string)
+	for k, v := range as.assignments {
+		beforeUpdate[k] = v
+	}
 	if len(assignments) != 0 {
 		var activeIds []string
 		for _, assignment := range assignments {
@@ -70,6 +75,7 @@ func (as *assignmentStore) Update(assignments []ConfigurationAssignment) {
 	} else {
 		Store.cleanup([]string{})
 	}
+	return !reflect.DeepEqual(beforeUpdate, as.assignments)
 }
 
 func (as *assignmentStore) cleanup(validBackendIds []string) {
diff --git a/daemon/daemon.go b/daemon/daemon.go
index 9d25168..ea5e275 100644
--- a/daemon/daemon.go
+++ b/daemon/daemon.go
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ func (dc *DaemonConfig) GetRunnerByBackendId(id string) Runner {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dc *DaemonConfig) SyncWithAssignments(configChecksums map[string]string, context *context.Ctx) {
+func (dc *DaemonConfig) SyncWithAssignments(context *context.Ctx) {
 	if dc.Runner == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ func (dc *DaemonConfig) SyncWithAssignments(configChecksums map[string]string, c
 			log.Infof("[%s] Updating process configuration", runner.Name())
 			runnerServiceType := runnerBackend.ServiceType
 			runner.SetBackend(*backend)
-			configChecksums[backend.Id] = ""
 			if backend.ServiceType != runnerServiceType {
 				log.Infof("Changing process runner (%s -> %s) for: %s",
 					runnerServiceType, backend.ServiceType, backend.Name)
@@ -146,7 +145,6 @@ func (dc *DaemonConfig) SyncWithAssignments(configChecksums map[string]string, c
 		if backend == nil || assignments.Store.GetAll()[backend.Id] == "" {
 			log.Info("Removing process runner: " + backend.Name)
 			dc.DeleteRunner(id)
-			configChecksums[backend.Id] = ""
 		}
 	}
 	assignedBackends := []*backends.Backend{}
diff --git a/services/periodicals.go b/services/periodicals.go
index 54e839b..693a336 100644
--- a/services/periodicals.go
+++ b/services/periodicals.go
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ func StartPeriodicals(context *context.Ctx) {
 		for {
 			time.Sleep(time.Duration(context.UserConfig.UpdateInterval) * time.Second)
 
-			// registration response contains configuration assignments
-			response, err := updateCollectorRegistration(httpClient, assignmentChecksum, context)
+			// registration regResponse contains configuration assignments
+			regResponse, err := updateCollectorRegistration(httpClient, assignmentChecksum, context)
 			if err != nil {
 				continue
 			}
-			assignmentChecksum = response.Checksum
+			assignmentChecksum = regResponse.Checksum
 			// backend list is needed before configuration assignments are updated
 			backendResponse, err := fetchBackendList(httpClient, backendChecksum, context)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -58,10 +58,15 @@ func StartPeriodicals(context *context.Ctx) {
 			}
 			backendChecksum = backendResponse.Checksum
 
-			if !response.NotModified || !backendResponse.NotModified {
-				assignments.Store.Update(response.Assignments)
+			if !regResponse.NotModified || !backendResponse.NotModified {
+				modified := assignments.Store.Update(regResponse.Assignments)
+				// regResponse.NotModified is always false, because graylog does not implement caching yet.
+				// Thus we need to double check.
+				if modified || !backendResponse.NotModified {
+					configChecksums = make(map[string]string)
+				}
 				// create process instances
-				daemon.Daemon.SyncWithAssignments(configChecksums, context)
+				daemon.Daemon.SyncWithAssignments(context)
 				// test for new or updated configurations and start the corresponding collector
 				if assignments.Store.Len() == 0 {
 					if logOnce {