diff --git a/python/vyos/config_mgmt.py b/python/vyos/config_mgmt.py
index 6bc9ff3338..1ce3971363 100644
--- a/python/vyos/config_mgmt.py
+++ b/python/vyos/config_mgmt.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 from vyos.utils.process import rc_cmd
 from vyos.defaults import DEFAULT_COMMIT_CONFIRM_MINUTES
 from vyos.component_version import append_system_version
+from vyos.utils.file import file_compare
 
 SAVE_CONFIG = '/usr/libexec/vyos/vyos-save-config.py'
 config_json = '/run/vyatta/config/config.json'
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ def unsaved_commits(allow_missing_config=False) -> bool:
         return True
     tmp_save = '/tmp/config.running'
     save_config(tmp_save)
-    ret = not cmp(tmp_save, config_file, shallow=False)
+    ret = not file_compare(tmp_save, config_file)
     os.unlink(tmp_save)
     return ret
 
diff --git a/python/vyos/utils/file.py b/python/vyos/utils/file.py
index 98d88d9e4e..86d909250e 100644
--- a/python/vyos/utils/file.py
+++ b/python/vyos/utils/file.py
@@ -312,3 +312,29 @@ def move_recursive(src: str, dst: str, overwrite=False):
 
     copy_recursive(src, dst, overwrite=overwrite)
     shutil.rmtree(src)
+
+
+def file_compare(file1: str, file2: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Compare two files modulo blank lines, leading/trailing whitespace, final
+    newline.
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if files are equivalent in the sense above.
+
+    """
+    def non_empty(line):
+        return bool(line.strip())
+
+    with open(file1) as f1, open(file2) as f2:
+        it1 = filter(non_empty, f1)
+        it2 = filter(non_empty, f2)
+
+        try:
+            for l1, l2 in zip(it1, it2, strict=True):
+                if l1.strip() != l2.strip():
+                    return False
+        except ValueError:
+            return False
+
+        return True
diff --git a/src/op_mode/image_installer.py b/src/op_mode/image_installer.py
index d17cfb2af5..9fa094f7c2 100755
--- a/src/op_mode/image_installer.py
+++ b/src/op_mode/image_installer.py
@@ -63,11 +63,13 @@
 from vyos.utils.auth import get_local_users
 from vyos.utils.auth import get_user_home_dir
 from vyos.version import get_version_data
+from vyos.config_mgmt import unsaved_commits
 
 # define text messages
 MSG_ERR_NOT_LIVE: str = 'The system is already installed. Please use "add system image" instead.'
 MSG_ERR_LIVE: str = 'The system is in live-boot mode. Please use "install image" instead.'
 MSG_ERR_NOT_ENOUGH_SPACE: str = 'Image upgrade requires at least 2GB of free drive space.'
+MSG_ERR_UNSAVED_COMMITS: str = 'There are unsaved changes to the configuration. Either save or revert before upgrade.'
 MSG_ERR_NO_DISK: str = 'No suitable disk was found. There must be at least one disk of 2GB or greater size.'
 MSG_ERR_IMPROPER_IMAGE: str = 'Missing sha256sum.txt.\nEither this image is corrupted, or of era 1.2.x (md5sum) and would downgrade image tools;\ndisallowed in either case.'
 MSG_ERR_INCOMPATIBLE_IMAGE: str = 'Image compatibility check failed, aborting installation.'
@@ -1102,6 +1104,9 @@ def add_image(image_path: str, vrf: str = None, username: str = '',
     if disk_usage('/').free < (2 * 1024**3):
         exit(MSG_ERR_NOT_ENOUGH_SPACE)
 
+    if unsaved_commits():
+        exit(MSG_ERR_UNSAVED_COMMITS)
+
     environ['REMOTE_USERNAME'] = username
     environ['REMOTE_PASSWORD'] = password