diff --git a/designate/central/service.py b/designate/central/service.py
index 9df81db1f..3fdf8c553 100644
--- a/designate/central/service.py
+++ b/designate/central/service.py
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ class Service(service.RPCService):
             context, zone, increment_serial=increment_serial)
 
         # Fire off a XFR
-        if 'masters' in changes:
+        if zone.type == 'SECONDARY' and 'masters' in changes:
             self.mdns_api.perform_zone_xfr(context, zone)
 
         self.zone_api.update_zone(context, zone)
diff --git a/designate/tests/test_central/test_service.py b/designate/tests/test_central/test_service.py
index 163a396e1..330a7d300 100644
--- a/designate/tests/test_central/test_service.py
+++ b/designate/tests/test_central/test_service.py
@@ -889,6 +889,42 @@ class CentralServiceTest(CentralTestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(notified_zone, objects.Zone)
         self.assertEqual(zone.id, notified_zone.id)
 
+    def test_update_zone_master_for_primary_zone(self):
+        # Create a zone
+        zone = self.create_zone(email='info@example.org')
+
+        # Update the masters
+        zone.masters = objects.ZoneMasterList()
+
+        mdns = mock.Mock()
+        with mock.patch.object(mdns_api.MdnsAPI,
+                               'get_instance') as get_worker:
+            get_worker.return_value = mdns
+            self.central_service.update_zone(self.admin_context, zone)
+
+        # Make sure we don't try to trigger an axfr for a primary zone.
+        self.assertFalse(mdns.perform_zone_xfr.called)
+
+    def test_update_zone_master_for_secondary_zone(self):
+        fixture = self.get_zone_fixture('SECONDARY', 0)
+        fixture['email'] = cfg.CONF['service:central'].managed_resource_email
+        fixture['masters'] = [{'host': '192.0.2.10', 'port': 53}]
+
+        # Create a zone
+        zone = self.create_zone(**fixture)
+
+        # Update the masters
+        zone.masters = objects.ZoneMasterList()
+
+        mdns = mock.Mock()
+        with mock.patch.object(mdns_api.MdnsAPI,
+                               'get_instance') as get_mdns:
+            get_mdns.return_value = mdns
+            self.central_service.update_zone(self.admin_context, zone)
+
+        # Make sure we trigger an axfr for a secondary zone.
+        self.assertTrue(mdns.perform_zone_xfr.called)
+
     def test_update_zone_without_id(self):
         # Create a zone
         zone = self.create_zone(email='info@example.org')