diff --git a/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/index.js b/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/index.js
index f3a7d81bd6481..c1be1b20e0a40 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/index.js
+++ b/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/index.js
@@ -7,14 +7,33 @@ import { withSelect, withDispatch } from '@wordpress/data';
 
 export class AutosaveMonitor extends Component {
 	componentDidUpdate( prevProps ) {
-		const { isDirty, editsReference, isAutosaveable } = this.props;
+		const { isDirty, editsReference, isAutosaveable, isAutosaving } = this.props;
+
+		// The edits reference is held for comparison to avoid scheduling an
+		// autosave if an edit has not been made since the last autosave
+		// completion. This is assigned when the autosave completes, and reset
+		// when an edit occurs.
+		//
+		// See: https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/12318
+
+		if ( editsReference !== prevProps.editsReference ) {
+			this.didAutosaveForEditsReference = false;
+		}
+
+		if ( ! isAutosaving && prevProps.isAutosaving ) {
+			this.didAutosaveForEditsReference = true;
+		}
 
 		if (
 			prevProps.isDirty !== isDirty ||
 			prevProps.isAutosaveable !== isAutosaveable ||
 			prevProps.editsReference !== editsReference
 		) {
-			this.toggleTimer( isDirty && isAutosaveable );
+			this.toggleTimer(
+				isDirty &&
+				isAutosaveable &&
+				! this.didAutosaveForEditsReference
+			);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -45,6 +64,7 @@ export default compose( [
 			isEditedPostAutosaveable,
 			getEditorSettings,
 			getReferenceByDistinctEdits,
+			isAutosavingPost,
 		} = select( 'core/editor' );
 
 		const { autosaveInterval } = getEditorSettings();
@@ -53,6 +73,7 @@ export default compose( [
 			isDirty: isEditedPostDirty(),
 			isAutosaveable: isEditedPostAutosaveable(),
 			editsReference: getReferenceByDistinctEdits(),
+			isAutosaving: isAutosavingPost(),
 			autosaveInterval,
 		};
 	} ),
diff --git a/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/test/index.js b/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/test/index.js
index e518586d6e719..2e7ecd1b3b2a3 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/test/index.js
+++ b/packages/editor/src/components/autosave-monitor/test/index.js
@@ -82,6 +82,28 @@ describe( 'AutosaveMonitor', () => {
 
 			expect( toggleTimer ).toHaveBeenCalledWith( false );
 		} );
+
+		it( 'should avoid scheduling autosave if still dirty but already autosaved for edits', () => {
+			// Explanation: When a published post is autosaved, it's still in a
+			// dirty state since the edits are not saved to the post until the
+			// user clicks "Update". To avoid recurring autosaves, ensure that
+			// an edit has occurred since the last autosave had completed.
+
+			const beforeReference = [];
+			const afterReference = [];
+
+			// A post is non-dirty while autosave is in-flight.
+			wrapper.setProps( { isDirty: false, isAutosaving: true, isAutosaveable: true, editsReference: beforeReference } );
+			toggleTimer.mockClear();
+			wrapper.setProps( { isDirty: true, isAutosaving: false, isAutosaveable: true, editsReference: beforeReference } );
+
+			expect( toggleTimer ).toHaveBeenCalledWith( false );
+
+			// Once edit occurs after autosave, resume scheduling.
+			wrapper.setProps( { isDirty: true, isAutosaving: false, isAutosaveable: true, editsReference: afterReference } );
+
+			expect( toggleTimer ).toHaveBeenCalledWith( false );
+		} );
 	} );
 
 	describe( '#componentWillUnmount()', () => {