diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/diff/gr-diff-view/gr-diff-view.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/diff/gr-diff-view/gr-diff-view.js
index 8455e1c..b97d974 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/diff/gr-diff-view/gr-diff-view.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/diff/gr-diff-view/gr-diff-view.js
@@ -61,24 +61,8 @@
         value() { return {}; },
         observer: '_changeViewStateChanged',
       },
-
+      /** @type {?} */
       _patchRange: Object,
-      // These are kept as separate properties from the patchRange so that the
-      // observer can be aware of the previous value. In order to view sub
-      // property changes for _patchRange, a complex observer must be used, and
-      // that only displays the new value.
-      //
-      // If a previous value did not exist, the change is not reloaded with the
-      // new patches. This is just the initial setting from the change view vs.
-      // an update coming from the two way data binding.
-      _patchNum: {
-        type: String,
-        observer: '_patchOrBaseChanged',
-      },
-      _basePatchNum: {
-        type: String,
-        observer: '_patchOrBaseChanged',
-      },
       /**
        * @type {{
        *  subject: string,
@@ -166,7 +150,6 @@
       '_getProjectConfig(_change.project)',
       '_getFiles(_changeNum, _patchRange.*)',
       '_setReviewedObserver(_loggedIn, params.*)',
-      '_patchRangeChanged(_patchRange.*)',
     ],
 
     keyBindings: {
@@ -584,17 +567,6 @@
       this.$.cursor.initialLineNumber = params.lineNum;
     },
 
-    _patchRangeChanged() {
-      this._basePatchNum = this._patchRange.basePatchNum;
-      this._patchNum = this._patchRange.patchNum;
-    },
-
-    _patchOrBaseChanged(patchNew, patchOld) {
-      if (!patchOld) { return; }
-
-      this._handlePatchChange(this._basePatchNum, this._patchNum);
-    },
-
     _pathChanged(path) {
       if (path) {
         this.fire('title-change',
@@ -701,7 +673,10 @@
       this.$.dropdown.open();
     },
 
-    _handlePatchChange(basePatchNum, patchNum) {
+    _handlePatchChange(e) {
+      const {basePatchNum, patchNum} = e.detail;
+      if (this.patchNumEquals(basePatchNum, this._patchRange.basePatchNum) &&
+          this.patchNumEquals(patchNum, this._patchRange.patchNum)) { return; }
       Gerrit.Nav.navigateToDiff(
           this._change, this._path, patchNum, basePatchNum);
     },