diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
index c46d12aa7..0139b607b 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
@@ -284,8 +284,6 @@ Error DatasetManager::Save(const Dataset &aDataset, bool aAllowOlderTimestamp)
         mTimer.Start(kSendSetDelay);
     }
 
-    SignalDatasetChange();
-
 exit:
     return error;
 }
@@ -339,8 +337,6 @@ void DatasetManager::SaveLocal(const Dataset &aDataset)
     default:
         break;
     }
-
-    SignalDatasetChange();
 }
 
 void DatasetManager::LocalSave(const Dataset &aDataset)
@@ -383,6 +379,8 @@ void DatasetManager::LocalSave(const Dataset &aDataset)
     {
         Get<PendingDatasetManager>().StartDelayTimer(aDataset);
     }
+
+    SignalDatasetChange();
 }
 
 void DatasetManager::SignalDatasetChange(void) const
diff --git a/tests/gtest/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/gtest/CMakeLists.txt
index 2a3b5a04f..a651533f1 100644
--- a/tests/gtest/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/gtest/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ target_link_libraries(ot-fake-platform
 )
 
 add_library(ot-fake-ftd INTERFACE)
+target_compile_definitions(ot-fake-ftd INTERFACE
+    OPENTHREAD_FTD=1
+    OPENTHREAD_MTD=0
+    OPENTHREAD_RADIO=0
+)
 target_link_libraries(ot-fake-ftd INTERFACE
     openthread-ftd
     ot-fake-platform
diff --git a/tests/gtest/dataset_test.cpp b/tests/gtest/dataset_test.cpp
index c2c401070..c5b7671f3 100644
--- a/tests/gtest/dataset_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/gtest/dataset_test.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 #include <openthread/platform/time.h>
 #include "gmock/gmock.h"
 
+#include "instance/instance.hpp"
+
 #include "fake_platform.hpp"
 #include "mock_callback.hpp"
 
@@ -162,3 +164,152 @@ TEST(otDatasetIsValid, shouldReturnFalseForIncompletePendingDataset)
 
     EXPECT_FALSE(otDatasetIsValid(&datasetTlvs, false));
 }
+
+// Saves an Active Dataset with the given Active Timestamp as the local dataset and returns it.
+static otOperationalDataset SaveLocalActiveDataset(uint64_t aTimestampSeconds)
+{
+    otOperationalDataset     dataset;
+    otOperationalDatasetTlvs datasetTlvs;
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(otDatasetCreateNewNetwork(FakePlatform::CurrentInstance(), &dataset), OT_ERROR_NONE);
+
+    dataset.mActiveTimestamp.mSeconds = aTimestampSeconds;
+
+    otDatasetConvertToTlvs(&dataset, &datasetTlvs);
+    EXPECT_EQ(otDatasetSetActiveTlvs(FakePlatform::CurrentInstance(), &datasetTlvs), OT_ERROR_NONE);
+
+    return dataset;
+}
+
+// Saves @p aDataset, re-stamped with the given Active Timestamp, using `ActiveDatasetManager::Save()`. This is the
+// path taken for a dataset received from the network, e.g., in a Child ID Response. It updates the local dataset
+// only when the received Active Timestamp is newer than the local one.
+static void SaveActiveDatasetFromNetwork(otOperationalDataset aDataset, uint64_t aTimestampSeconds)
+{
+    otOperationalDatasetTlvs datasetTlvs;
+    MeshCoP::Dataset         dataset;
+
+    aDataset.mActiveTimestamp.mSeconds = aTimestampSeconds;
+    otDatasetConvertToTlvs(&aDataset, &datasetTlvs);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(dataset.SetFrom(datasetTlvs), OT_ERROR_NONE);
+    EXPECT_EQ(AsCoreType(FakePlatform::CurrentInstance()).Get<MeshCoP::ActiveDatasetManager>().Save(dataset),
+              OT_ERROR_NONE);
+}
+
+// Registers a state changed callback on @p aMockStateCallback which fails the test if
+// `OT_CHANGED_ACTIVE_DATASET` is signaled.
+template <typename MockStateCallback> void ExpectNoActiveDatasetChangedEvent(MockStateCallback &aMockStateCallback)
+{
+    EXPECT_CALL(aMockStateCallback, Call).Times(AnyNumber());
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(aMockStateCallback, Call(Truly([](otChangedFlags aChangedFlags) -> bool {
+                    return (aChangedFlags & OT_CHANGED_ACTIVE_DATASET);
+                })))
+        .Times(0);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(otSetStateChangedCallback(FakePlatform::CurrentInstance(), MockStateCallback::CallWithContext,
+                                        &aMockStateCallback),
+              OT_ERROR_NONE);
+}
+
+TEST(DatasetManagerSave, shouldNotTriggerStateCallbackWhenTimestampIsEqual)
+{
+    FakePlatform fakePlatform;
+
+    typedef MockCallback<void, otChangedFlags> MockStateCallback;
+
+    MockStateCallback    mockStateCallback;
+    otOperationalDataset dataset = SaveLocalActiveDataset(100);
+
+    // Let the event from the initial save be dispatched before registering the callback.
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(1000);
+
+    ExpectNoActiveDatasetChangedEvent(mockStateCallback);
+
+    // The dataset is not saved, since its Active Timestamp is not newer than the local one.
+    SaveActiveDatasetFromNetwork(dataset, 100);
+
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(10000);
+}
+
+TEST(DatasetManagerSave, shouldNotTriggerStateCallbackWhenTimestampIsOlder)
+{
+    FakePlatform fakePlatform;
+
+    typedef MockCallback<void, otChangedFlags> MockStateCallback;
+
+    MockStateCallback    mockStateCallback;
+    otOperationalDataset dataset = SaveLocalActiveDataset(100);
+
+    // Let the event from the initial save be dispatched before registering the callback.
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(1000);
+
+    ExpectNoActiveDatasetChangedEvent(mockStateCallback);
+
+    // The dataset is not saved, since its Active Timestamp is older than the local one. Instead, an `MGMT_SET` is
+    // scheduled to push the newer local dataset back to the leader.
+    SaveActiveDatasetFromNetwork(dataset, 50);
+
+    // Go past `kSendSetDelay` so that the scheduled `MGMT_SET` is also covered.
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(10000);
+}
+
+TEST(DatasetManagerSave, shouldTriggerStateCallbackWhenTimestampIsNewer)
+{
+    FakePlatform fakePlatform;
+
+    typedef MockCallback<void, otChangedFlags> MockStateCallback;
+
+    MockStateCallback    mockStateCallback;
+    otOperationalDataset dataset = SaveLocalActiveDataset(100);
+
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(1000);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockStateCallback, Call).Times(AnyNumber());
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockStateCallback, Call(Truly([](otChangedFlags aChangedFlags) -> bool {
+                    return (aChangedFlags & OT_CHANGED_ACTIVE_DATASET);
+                })))
+        .Times(AtLeast(1));
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(otSetStateChangedCallback(FakePlatform::CurrentInstance(), MockStateCallback::CallWithContext,
+                                        &mockStateCallback),
+              OT_ERROR_NONE);
+
+    // The dataset is saved, since its Active Timestamp is newer than the local one.
+    SaveActiveDatasetFromNetwork(dataset, 200);
+
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(10000);
+}
+
+// Unlike `DatasetManager::Save()`, saving through the public API updates the local dataset even
+// when the Active Timestamp is older than the local one, and therefore always signals the change.
+TEST(otDatasetSetActiveTlvs, shouldTriggerStateCallbackEvenWhenTimestampIsOlder)
+{
+    FakePlatform fakePlatform;
+
+    typedef MockCallback<void, otChangedFlags> MockStateCallback;
+
+    MockStateCallback mockStateCallback;
+
+    SaveLocalActiveDataset(100);
+
+    // Let the event from the initial save be dispatched before registering the callback.
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(1000);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockStateCallback, Call).Times(AnyNumber());
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockStateCallback, Call(Truly([](otChangedFlags aChangedFlags) -> bool {
+                    return (aChangedFlags & OT_CHANGED_ACTIVE_DATASET);
+                })))
+        .Times(AtLeast(1));
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(otSetStateChangedCallback(FakePlatform::CurrentInstance(), MockStateCallback::CallWithContext,
+                                        &mockStateCallback),
+              OT_ERROR_NONE);
+
+    SaveLocalActiveDataset(50);
+
+    fakePlatform.GoInMs(10000);
+}