diff --git a/src/datachain/lib/dc/datachain.py b/src/datachain/lib/dc/datachain.py
index 99f06d28f..137567780 100644
--- a/src/datachain/lib/dc/datachain.py
+++ b/src/datachain/lib/dc/datachain.py
@@ -657,7 +657,9 @@ def save(  # type: ignore[override]
                 # current latest version instead.
                 from .datasets import read_dataset
 
-                return read_dataset(name, **kwargs)
+                return read_dataset(
+                    name, namespace=namespace_name, project=project_name, **kwargs
+                )
 
         return self._evolve(
             query=self._query.save(
diff --git a/tests/func/test_delta.py b/tests/func/test_delta.py
index b34caf7c9..5165f94fd 100644
--- a/tests/func/test_delta.py
+++ b/tests/func/test_delta.py
@@ -11,11 +11,26 @@
 from datachain.lib.file import File, ImageFile
 
 
+def _get_short_ds_name(catalog, name, project_name, namespace_name) -> str:
+    if project_name == catalog.metastore.default_project.name:
+        return name
+    if namespace_name == catalog.metastore.default_project.namespace.name:
+        return f"{project_name}.{name}"
+    return f"{namespace_name}.{project_name}.{name}"
+
+
 def _get_dependencies(catalog, name, version) -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
+    namespace_name, project_name, name = catalog.get_full_dataset_name(name)
     return sorted(
         [
-            (d.name, d.version)
-            for d in catalog.get_dataset_dependencies(name, version, indirect=False)
+            (_get_short_ds_name(catalog, d.name, d.project, d.namespace), d.version)
+            for d in catalog.get_dataset_dependencies(
+                name,
+                version,
+                project_name=project_name,
+                namespace_name=namespace_name,
+                indirect=False,
+            )
         ]
     )
 
@@ -23,8 +38,8 @@ def _get_dependencies(catalog, name, version) -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
 def test_delta_update_from_dataset(test_session, tmp_dir, tmp_path):
     catalog = test_session.catalog
 
-    starting_ds_name = "starting_ds"
-    ds_name = "delta_ds"
+    starting_ds_name = "project.starting_ds"
+    ds_name = "project.delta_ds"
 
     images = [
         {"name": "img1.jpg", "data": Image.new(mode="RGB", size=(64, 64))},
@@ -82,6 +97,73 @@ def create_delta_dataset(ds_name):
     create_delta_dataset(ds_name)
 
 
+def test_delta_returns_correct_dataset_on_no_changes(test_session):
+    catalog = test_session.catalog
+
+    default_project_name = catalog.metastore.default_project.name
+    default_namespace_name = catalog.metastore.default_project.namespace.name
+
+    base_short = "same_name_base"
+    delta_short = "same_name_delta"
+
+    cases = [
+        {"ns": default_namespace_name, "proj": default_project_name, "ids": [1, 2]},
+        {"ns": default_namespace_name, "proj": "project_other", "ids": [10, 20, 30]},
+        {"ns": "namespace_other", "proj": "project_other", "ids": [100, 200]},
+    ]
+
+    # First pass: create starting and delta datasets (v1)
+    for case in cases:
+        ns = case["ns"]
+        proj = case["proj"]
+        ids = case["ids"]
+
+        starting_ds_name = _get_short_ds_name(catalog, base_short, proj, ns)
+        delta_ds_name = _get_short_ds_name(catalog, delta_short, proj, ns)
+
+        dc.read_values(id=ids, session=test_session).save(starting_ds_name)
+
+        dc.read_dataset(
+            starting_ds_name,
+            session=test_session,
+            delta=True,
+            delta_on="id",
+            delta_compare="id",
+        ).save(delta_ds_name)
+
+        assert _get_dependencies(catalog, delta_ds_name, "1.0.0") == [
+            (starting_ds_name, "1.0.0")
+        ]
+        assert set(
+            dc.read_dataset(delta_ds_name, version="1.0.0").to_values("id")
+        ) == set(ids)
+
+    # Second pass: re-save with no changes, ensure it returns the existing version
+    for case in cases:
+        ns = case["ns"]
+        proj = case["proj"]
+        ids = case["ids"]
+
+        starting_ds_name = _get_short_ds_name(catalog, base_short, proj, ns)
+        delta_ds_name = _get_short_ds_name(catalog, delta_short, proj, ns)
+
+        res = dc.read_dataset(
+            starting_ds_name,
+            session=test_session,
+            delta=True,
+            delta_on="id",
+            delta_compare="id",
+        ).save(delta_ds_name)
+
+        # Should return the dataset with the same contents (no changes)
+        assert res.dataset is not None
+        assert set(dc.read_dataset(delta_ds_name).to_values("id")) == set(ids)
+
+        # Still no newer version available
+        with pytest.raises(DatasetNotFoundError):
+            dc.read_dataset(delta_ds_name, version="1.0.1")
+
+
 def test_delta_update_unsafe(test_session):
     catalog = test_session.catalog