diff --git a/crates/clawhdf5-format/src/file_writer.rs b/crates/clawhdf5-format/src/file_writer.rs
index 5350c88..644b64e 100644
--- a/crates/clawhdf5-format/src/file_writer.rs
+++ b/crates/clawhdf5-format/src/file_writer.rs
@@ -1124,7 +1124,12 @@ impl FileWriter {
         let is_chunked: Vec<bool> = all_ds
             .iter()
             .enumerate()
-            .map(|(i, d)| !is_vds[i] && (d.chunk_options.is_chunked() || d.maxshape.is_some()))
+            .map(|(i, d)| {
+                // Only a dataset that can grow needs chunks; a maxshape equal
+                // to the shape is as fixed as no maxshape at all.
+                let resizable = d.maxshape.as_ref().is_some_and(|m| *m != d.ds.dimensions);
+                !is_vds[i] && (d.chunk_options.is_chunked() || resizable)
+            })
             .collect();
         // Determine which datasets use compact storage
         let is_compact: Vec<bool> = all_ds
diff --git a/crates/clawhdf5/tests/chunk_index_interop.rs b/crates/clawhdf5/tests/chunk_index_interop.rs
index 2fb5aeb..b72b7e2 100644
--- a/crates/clawhdf5/tests/chunk_index_interop.rs
+++ b/crates/clawhdf5/tests/chunk_index_interop.rs
@@ -547,3 +547,47 @@ fn btree_v2_index_past_one_leaf_is_refused() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     assert!(b.write(dir.path().join("too_many.h5")).is_err());
 }
+
+/// A maxshape equal to the shape cannot grow, so it needs no chunks: the
+/// dataset stays contiguous (as h5py makes it) unless chunks are requested.
+#[test]
+fn maxshape_equal_to_shape_stays_contiguous() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let path = dir.path().join("ms_eq.h5");
+    let data: Vec<i32> = (0..40).collect();
+    let mut b = FileBuilder::new();
+    b.create_dataset("plain")
+        .with_i32_data(&data)
+        .with_shape(&[40])
+        .with_maxshape(&[40]);
+    b.create_dataset("chunked")
+        .with_i32_data(&data)
+        .with_shape(&[40])
+        .with_maxshape(&[40])
+        .with_chunks(&[8]);
+    b.write(&path).unwrap();
+
+    let file = File::open(&path).unwrap();
+    let plain = file.dataset("plain").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(plain.read_i32().unwrap(), data);
+    assert_eq!(plain.max_dimensions().unwrap(), Some(vec![40]));
+    assert!(
+        plain.read_raw_ref().unwrap().is_some(),
+        "maxshape == shape should be contiguous"
+    );
+    let chunked = file.dataset("chunked").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(chunked.read_i32().unwrap(), data);
+    assert!(chunked.read_raw_ref().unwrap().is_none());
+
+    skip_if_no_python!();
+    let out = run_python(&format!(
+        "import h5py, numpy as np\n\
+         f = h5py.File(r'{}', 'r')\n\
+         for n in ('plain', 'chunked'):\n\
+         \x20   d = f[n]\n\
+         \x20   assert np.array_equal(d[()], np.arange(40, dtype='i4')), n\n\
+         \x20   print(n, d.chunks, d.maxshape)\n",
+        path.display()
+    ));
+    assert_eq!(out, "plain None (40,)\nchunked (8,) (40,)");
+}