diff --git a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c
index 8bbec200c..43da9146f 100644
--- a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c
+++ b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c
@@ -688,6 +688,7 @@ int newcat_open(RIG *rig)
     }
 
 #endif
+    priv->band_index = -1;
 
     RETURNFUNC(RIG_OK);
 }
@@ -1332,7 +1333,10 @@ int newcat_set_freq(RIG *rig, vfo_t vfo, freq_t freq)
     rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR, "%s: is_ft991=%d, rig->state.cache.split=%d, vfo=%s\n",
               __func__, is_ft991, rig->state.cache.split, rig_strvfo(vfo));
 
-    if (is_ft991 && vfo == RIG_VFO_A)
+    if (priv->band_index < 0) priv->band_index = newcat_band_index(freq);
+    // only use bandstack method when actually changing bands
+    // there are multiple bandstacks so we just use the 1st one
+    if (is_ft991 && vfo == RIG_VFO_A && priv->band_index != newcat_band_index(freq))
     {
         if (rig->state.cache.split)
         {
diff --git a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h
index 9b032e9e1..71f4f7c8c 100644
--- a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h
+++ b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 typedef char ncboolean;
 
 /* shared function version */
-#define NEWCAT_VER "20240127"
+#define NEWCAT_VER "20240131"
 
 /* Hopefully large enough for future use, 128 chars plus '\0' */
 #define NEWCAT_DATA_LEN                 129
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ struct newcat_priv_data
     int question_mark_response_means_rejected; /* the question mark response has multiple meanings */
     char front_rear_status; /* e.g. FTDX5000 EX103 status */
     int split_st_command_missing; /* is ST command gone?  assume not until proven otherwise */
+    int band_index;
 };
 
 /*