diff --git a/selfdrive/controls/lib/longitudinal_planner.py b/selfdrive/controls/lib/longitudinal_planner.py
index 54cad24562..03c5749d5c 100755
--- a/selfdrive/controls/lib/longitudinal_planner.py
+++ b/selfdrive/controls/lib/longitudinal_planner.py
@@ -65,14 +65,19 @@ class LongitudinalPlanner:
     self.solverExecutionTime = 0.0
     self.params = Params()
     self.param_read_counter = 0
-    self.personality = log.LongitudinalPersonality.standard
+    self.personality = None
+    self.param_personality = None
     self.read_param()
 
   def read_param(self):
     try:
-      self.personality = int(self.params.get('LongitudinalPersonality'))
+      param_personality = int(self.params.get('LongitudinalPersonality'))
     except (ValueError, TypeError):
-      self.personality = log.LongitudinalPersonality.standard
+      param_personality = log.LongitudinalPersonality.standard
+
+    if self.param_personality != param_personality:
+      self.param_personality = param_personality
+      self.personality = param_personality
 
   @staticmethod
   def parse_model(model_msg, model_error):