diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/pxe.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/pxe.py
index eaa21b5f1b..b471f656fd 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/pxe.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/pxe.py
@@ -473,7 +473,8 @@ class PXEBoot(base.BootInterface):
             bootfile_path = os.path.join(
                 CONF.deploy.http_root,
                 os.path.basename(CONF.pxe.ipxe_boot_script))
-            shutil.copyfile(CONF.pxe.ipxe_boot_script, bootfile_path)
+            if not os.path.exists(bootfile_path):
+                shutil.copyfile(CONF.pxe.ipxe_boot_script, bootfile_path)
 
         dhcp_opts = pxe_utils.dhcp_options_for_instance(task)
         provider = dhcp_factory.DHCPFactory()
diff --git a/ironic/tests/drivers/test_pxe.py b/ironic/tests/drivers/test_pxe.py
index 12dfe5b1e1..c3e296d46d 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/drivers/test_pxe.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/drivers/test_pxe.py
@@ -773,19 +773,31 @@ class PXEBootTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
         self.node.save()
         self._test_prepare_ramdisk(uefi=True)
 
-    @mock.patch.object(shutil, 'copyfile', autospec=True)
-    def test_prepare_ramdisk_ipxe(self, copyfile_mock):
+    def _prepare_ramdisk_ipxe(self):
         self.node.provision_state = states.DEPLOYING
         self.node.save()
         self.config(group='pxe', ipxe_enabled=True)
         self.config(group='deploy', http_url='http://myserver')
         self._test_prepare_ramdisk()
+
+    @mock.patch.object(shutil, 'copyfile', autospec=True)
+    def test_prepare_ramdisk_ipxe(self, copyfile_mock):
+        self._prepare_ramdisk_ipxe()
         copyfile_mock.assert_called_once_with(
             CONF.pxe.ipxe_boot_script,
             os.path.join(
                 CONF.deploy.http_root,
                 os.path.basename(CONF.pxe.ipxe_boot_script)))
 
+    @mock.patch.object(os.path, 'exists', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(shutil, 'copyfile', autospec=True)
+    def test_prepare_ramdisk_ipxe_already_present(
+            self, copyfile_mock, path_exists_mock):
+        path_exists_mock.return_value = True
+        self._prepare_ramdisk_ipxe()
+        # Assert we don't copy the boot script again
+        self.assertFalse(copyfile_mock.called)
+
     def test_prepare_ramdisk_cleaning(self):
         self.node.provision_state = states.CLEANING
         self.node.save()