diff --git a/changelog/60997.fixed b/changelog/60997.fixed
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..779005f5014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/60997.fixed
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix cron.present duplicating entries when changing timespec to special.
diff --git a/salt/states/cron.py b/salt/states/cron.py
index c8576727190..bfbfbea0eb3 100644
--- a/salt/states/cron.py
+++ b/salt/states/cron.py
@@ -355,6 +355,9 @@ def present(
         return ret
 
     if special is None:
+        antidata = __salt__["cron.rm_special"](
+            user, name, special=special, identifier=identifier
+        )
         data = __salt__["cron.set_job"](
             user=user,
             minute=minute,
@@ -368,6 +371,7 @@ def present(
             identifier=identifier,
         )
     else:
+        antidata = __salt__["cron.rm_job"](user, name, identifier=identifier)
         data = __salt__["cron.set_special"](
             user=user,
             special=special,
@@ -376,15 +380,23 @@ def present(
             commented=commented,
             identifier=identifier,
         )
-    if data == "present":
+
+    if data == "present" and antidata == "removed":
+        ret["comment"] = "Duplicate Cron {} removed".format(name)
+        return ret
+
+    if data == "present" and antidata == "absent":
         ret["comment"] = "Cron {} already present".format(name)
         return ret
 
-    if data == "new":
+    if data == "new" and antidata == "absent":
         ret["comment"] = "Cron {} added to {}'s crontab".format(name, user)
         ret["changes"] = {user: name}
         return ret
 
+    if data == "new" and antidata == "removed":
+        ret["comment"] = "Cron {} time specification changed".format(name)
+
     if data == "updated":
         ret["comment"] = "Cron {} updated".format(name)
         ret["changes"] = {user: name}
diff --git a/tests/unit/states/test_cron.py b/tests/unit/states/test_cron.py
index 0732b2d889f..989c5dcc74f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/states/test_cron.py
+++ b/tests/unit/states/test_cron.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ class CronTestCase(TestCase, LoaderModuleMockMixin):
                 "cron.list_tab": cronmod.list_tab,
                 "cron.rm_job": cronmod.rm_job,
                 "cron.set_job": cronmod.set_job,
+                "cron.rm_special": cronmod.rm_special,
+                "cron.set_special": cronmod.set_special,
             },
         }
         return {cron: loader_gloabals, cronmod: loader_gloabals}
@@ -133,6 +135,37 @@ class CronTestCase(TestCase, LoaderModuleMockMixin):
             "* 2 * * * foo",
         )
 
+    def test_present_special(self):
+        cron.present(name="foo", special="@hourly", identifier="1", user="root")
+        self.assertMultiLineEqual(
+            self.get_crontab(),
+            "# Lines below here are managed by Salt, do not edit\n"
+            "# SALT_CRON_IDENTIFIER:1\n"
+            "@hourly foo",
+        )
+
+    def test_present_special_after_unspecial(self):
+        """cron.present should remove an unspecial entry with the same identifier"""
+        cron.present(name="foo", hour="1", identifier="1", user="root")
+        cron.present(name="foo", special="@hourly", identifier="1", user="root")
+        self.assertMultiLineEqual(
+            self.get_crontab(),
+            "# Lines below here are managed by Salt, do not edit\n"
+            "# SALT_CRON_IDENTIFIER:1\n"
+            "@hourly foo",
+        )
+
+    def test_present_unspecial_after_special(self):
+        """cron.present should remove an special entry with the same identifier"""
+        cron.present(name="foo", special="@hourly", identifier="1", user="root")
+        cron.present(name="foo", hour="1", identifier="1", user="root")
+        self.assertMultiLineEqual(
+            self.get_crontab(),
+            "# Lines below here are managed by Salt, do not edit\n"
+            "# SALT_CRON_IDENTIFIER:1\n"
+            "* 1 * * * foo",
+        )
+
     def test_remove(self):
         with patch.dict(cron.__opts__, {"test": True}):
             self.set_crontab(