diff --git a/rdmo/domain/imports.py b/rdmo/domain/imports.py
index 5a97f6bcfa..fda00dc08a 100644
--- a/rdmo/domain/imports.py
+++ b/rdmo/domain/imports.py
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
+import copy
 import logging
 
 from django.contrib.sites.models import Site
 
-from rdmo.core.imports import check_permissions, set_common_fields, set_foreign_field, validate_instance
+from rdmo.core.imports import (
+    check_diff_instance,
+    check_permissions,
+    set_common_fields,
+    set_foreign_field,
+    validate_instance,
+)
 
 from .models import Attribute
 from .validators import AttributeLockedValidator, AttributeParentValidator, AttributeUniqueURIValidator
@@ -13,8 +20,13 @@
 def import_attribute(element, save=False, user=None):
     try:
         attribute = Attribute.objects.get(uri=element.get('uri'))
+        original_attribute = copy.deepcopy(vars(attribute))
+        element['updated'] = True
+        _msg = 'Attribute %s updated.', element.get('uri')
     except Attribute.DoesNotExist:
         attribute = Attribute()
+        element['created'] = True
+        _msg = 'Attribute created with uri %s.', element.get('uri')
 
     set_common_fields(attribute, element)
 
@@ -27,15 +39,20 @@ def import_attribute(element, save=False, user=None):
 
     check_permissions(attribute, element, user)
 
-    if save and not element.get('errors'):
-        if attribute.id:
-            element['updated'] = True
-            logger.debug('Attribute %s updated.', element.get('uri'))
-        else:
-            element['created'] = True
-            logger.debug('Attribute created with uri %s.', element.get('uri'))
+    if element.get('errors'):
+        return attribute
 
+    if element['updated']:
+
+        diffs = check_diff_instance(original_attribute, element, check=True)
+        if diffs:
+            # breakpoint()
+            diff_warning = "\n".join([f"{k}:{' '.join(val)}" for k, val in diffs.items()])
+            element['diffs'] = diff_warning
+
+    if save:
         attribute.save()
         attribute.editors.add(Site.objects.get_current())
+        logger.debug(_msg)
 
     return attribute