diff --git a/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs b/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs
index 4f7e02e196..1ad420ed06 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use crate::{
     system::Resource,
 };
 use bevy_ptr::{Ptr, UnsafeCellDeref};
+use std::mem;
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 
 /// The (arbitrarily chosen) minimum number of world tick increments between `check_tick` scans.
@@ -129,6 +130,8 @@ pub trait DetectChangesMut: DetectChanges {
     /// This is useful to ensure change detection is only triggered when the underlying value
     /// changes, instead of every time it is mutably accessed.
     ///
+    /// If you need to handle the previous value, use [`replace_if_neq`](DetectChangesMut::replace_if_neq).
+    ///
     /// # Examples
     ///
     /// ```
@@ -167,6 +170,77 @@ pub trait DetectChangesMut: DetectChanges {
             self.set_changed();
         }
     }
+
+    /// Overwrites this smart pointer with the given value, if and only if `*self != value`
+    /// returning the previous value if this occurs.
+    ///
+    /// This is useful to ensure change detection is only triggered when the underlying value
+    /// changes, instead of every time it is mutably accessed.
+    ///
+    /// If you don't need to handle the previous value, use [`set_if_neq`](DetectChangesMut::set_if_neq).
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    ///
+    /// ```
+    /// # use bevy_ecs::{prelude::*, schedule::common_conditions::{resource_changed, on_event}};
+    /// #[derive(Resource, PartialEq, Eq)]
+    /// pub struct Score(u32);
+    ///
+    /// #[derive(Event, PartialEq, Eq)]
+    /// pub struct ScoreChanged {
+    ///     current: u32,
+    ///     previous: u32,
+    /// }
+    ///
+    /// fn reset_score(mut score: ResMut<Score>, mut score_changed: EventWriter<ScoreChanged>) {
+    ///     // Set the score to zero, unless it is already zero.
+    ///     let new_score = 0;
+    ///     if let Some(Score(previous_score)) = score.replace_if_neq(Score(new_score)) {
+    ///         // If `score` change, emit a `ScoreChanged` event.
+    ///         score_changed.send(ScoreChanged {
+    ///             current: new_score,
+    ///             previous: previous_score,
+    ///         });
+    ///     }
+    /// }
+    /// # let mut world = World::new();
+    /// # world.insert_resource(Events::<ScoreChanged>::default());
+    /// # world.insert_resource(Score(1));
+    /// # let mut score_changed = IntoSystem::into_system(resource_changed::<Score>());
+    /// # score_changed.initialize(&mut world);
+    /// # score_changed.run((), &mut world);
+    /// #
+    /// # let mut score_changed_event = IntoSystem::into_system(on_event::<ScoreChanged>());
+    /// # score_changed_event.initialize(&mut world);
+    /// # score_changed_event.run((), &mut world);
+    /// #
+    /// # let mut schedule = Schedule::new();
+    /// # schedule.add_systems(reset_score);
+    /// #
+    /// # // first time `reset_score` runs, the score is changed.
+    /// # schedule.run(&mut world);
+    /// # assert!(score_changed.run((), &mut world));
+    /// # assert!(score_changed_event.run((), &mut world));
+    /// # // second time `reset_score` runs, the score is not changed.
+    /// # schedule.run(&mut world);
+    /// # assert!(!score_changed.run((), &mut world));
+    /// # assert!(!score_changed_event.run((), &mut world));
+    /// ```
+    #[inline]
+    #[must_use = "If you don't need to handle the previous value, use `set_if_neq` instead."]
+    fn replace_if_neq(&mut self, value: Self::Inner) -> Option<Self::Inner>
+    where
+        Self::Inner: Sized + PartialEq,
+    {
+        let old = self.bypass_change_detection();
+        if *old != value {
+            let previous = mem::replace(old, value);
+            self.set_changed();
+            Some(previous)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 macro_rules! change_detection_impl {