diff --git a/.changeset/upset-clubs-kick.md b/.changeset/upset-clubs-kick.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6aeb456979d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/upset-clubs-kick.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"effect": patch
+---
+
+Return `self` from `BigDecimal.normalize` for already-normalized values
diff --git a/packages/effect/src/BigDecimal.ts b/packages/effect/src/BigDecimal.ts
index 1a52ce9992a..b8cef106393 100644
--- a/packages/effect/src/BigDecimal.ts
+++ b/packages/effect/src/BigDecimal.ts
@@ -161,11 +161,11 @@ export const normalize = (self: BigDecimal): BigDecimal => {
 
       if (trail === 0) {
         self.normalized = self
+      } else {
+        const value = BigInt(digits.substring(0, digits.length - trail))
+        const scale = self.scale - trail
+        self.normalized = unsafeMakeNormalized(value, scale)
       }
-
-      const value = BigInt(digits.substring(0, digits.length - trail))
-      const scale = self.scale - trail
-      self.normalized = unsafeMakeNormalized(value, scale)
     }
   }