diff --git a/jquery.mjs.nestedSortable.js b/jquery.mjs.nestedSortable.js
index 72ed56b..01ec792 100644
--- a/jquery.mjs.nestedSortable.js
+++ b/jquery.mjs.nestedSortable.js
@@ -63,8 +63,10 @@
 					if ($li.children(self.options.listType).length) {
 						$li.addClass(self.options.branchClass);
 						// expand/collapse class only if they have children
-						if (self.options.startCollapsed) $li.addClass(self.options.collapsedClass);
-						else $li.addClass(self.options.expandedClass);
+						if ( ! $li.hasClass( self.options.collapsedClass ) && ( ! $li.hasClass( self.options.expandedClass ) ) ) {
+							if (self.options.startCollapsed) $li.addClass(self.options.collapsedClass);
+							else $li.addClass(self.options.expandedClass);
+						}
 					} else {
 						$li.addClass(self.options.leafClass);
 					}