diff --git a/beets/autotag/hooks.py b/beets/autotag/hooks.py
index 06107295a..a3d4bf61b 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/hooks.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/hooks.py
@@ -70,7 +70,15 @@ def correct_list_fields(input_data: JSONDict) -> JSONDict:
 
     def ensure_first_value(single_field: str, list_field: str) -> None:
         """Ensure the first ``list_field`` item is equal to ``single_field``."""
-        single_val, list_val = data.get(single_field), data.get(list_field, [])
+        single_val, list_val = (
+            data.get(single_field) or "",
+            data.get(list_field, []),
+        )
+        if single_val not in list_val and set(single_val.lower().split()) & set(
+            map(str.lower, list_val)
+        ):
+            return
+
         if single_val:
             data[list_field] = unique_list([single_val, *list_val])
         elif list_val:
diff --git a/test/autotag/test_hooks.py b/test/autotag/test_hooks.py
index ddaced54e..fc1024057 100644
--- a/test/autotag/test_hooks.py
+++ b/test/autotag/test_hooks.py
@@ -258,6 +258,10 @@ class TestOverwriteNull:
         ("1", ["1", "2"], ("1", ["1", "2"])),
         ("1", ["2", "1"], ("1", ["1", "2"])),
         ("1", ["2"], ("1", ["1", "2"])),
+        ("1 ft 2", ["1", "1 ft 2"], ("1 ft 2", ["1 ft 2", "1"])),
+        ("1 FT 2", ["1", "1 ft 2"], ("1 FT 2", ["1", "1 ft 2"])),
+        ("a", ["b", "A"], ("a", ["b", "A"])),
+        ("1 ft 2", ["2", "1"], ("1 ft 2", ["2", "1"])),
     ],
 )
 def test_correct_list_fields(