diff --git a/compat/fsmonitor/fsm-listen-darwin.c b/compat/fsmonitor/fsm-listen-darwin.c
index 0741fe834c..14105f45c1 100644
--- a/compat/fsmonitor/fsm-listen-darwin.c
+++ b/compat/fsmonitor/fsm-listen-darwin.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ static void log_flags_set(const char *path, const FSEventStreamEventFlags flag)
 	if (flag & kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemCloned)
 		strbuf_addstr(&msg, "ItemCloned|");
 
-	trace_printf_key(&trace_fsmonitor, "fsevent: '%s', flags=%u %s",
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_fsmonitor, "fsevent: '%s', flags=0x%x %s",
 			 path, flag, msg.buf);
 
 	strbuf_release(&msg);
@@ -125,6 +125,31 @@ static int ef_is_dropped(const FSEventStreamEventFlags ef)
 		ef & kFSEventStreamEventFlagUserDropped);
 }
 
+/*
+ * If an `xattr` change is the only reason we received this event,
+ * then silently ignore it.  Git doesn't care about xattr's.  We
+ * have to be careful here because the kernel can combine multiple
+ * events for a single path.  And because events always have certain
+ * bits set, such as `ItemIsFile` or `ItemIsDir`.
+ *
+ * Return 1 if we should ignore it.
+ */
+static int ef_ignore_xattr(const FSEventStreamEventFlags ef)
+{
+	static const FSEventStreamEventFlags mask =
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemChangeOwner |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemCreated |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemFinderInfoMod |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemInodeMetaMod |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemModified |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemRemoved |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemRenamed |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemXattrMod |
+		kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemCloned;
+
+	return ((ef & mask) == kFSEventStreamEventFlagItemXattrMod);
+}
+
 static void fsevent_callback(ConstFSEventStreamRef streamRef,
 			     void *ctx,
 			     size_t num_of_events,
@@ -190,6 +215,13 @@ static void fsevent_callback(ConstFSEventStreamRef streamRef,
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		if (ef_ignore_xattr(event_flags[k])) {
+			trace_printf_key(&trace_fsmonitor,
+					 "ignore-xattr: '%s', flags=0x%x",
+					 path_k, event_flags[k]);
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		switch (fsmonitor_classify_path_absolute(state, path_k)) {
 
 		case IS_INSIDE_DOT_GIT_WITH_COOKIE_PREFIX: