diff --git a/src/gen/lib/citation.py b/src/gen/lib/citation.py
index 214315f45..ac9d24a6e 100644
--- a/src/gen/lib/citation.py
+++ b/src/gen/lib/citation.py
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ class Citation(MediaBase, NoteBase, PrimaryObject, DateBase):
         self.confidence = Citation.CONF_NORMAL         #  4
         self.datamap = {}                              #  8
         
-    def serialize(self):
+    def serialize(self, no_text_date = False):
         """
         Convert the object to a serialized tuple of data.
         """
         return (self.handle,                           #  0
                 self.gramps_id,                        #  1
-                DateBase.serialize(self),              #  2
+                DateBase.serialize(self, no_text_date),#  2
                 unicode(self.page),                    #  3
                 self.confidence,                       #  4
                 self.source_handle,                    #  5
diff --git a/src/gui/editors/editcitation.py b/src/gui/editors/editcitation.py
index 636731fd9..15f6947b0 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/editcitation.py
+++ b/src/gui/editors/editcitation.py
@@ -432,6 +432,29 @@ class EditCitation(EditPrimary):
             self.callback(self.obj.get_handle())
         self.close()
 
+    def data_has_changed(self):
+        """
+        A date comparison can fail incorrectly because we have made the
+        decision to store entered text in the date. However, there is no
+        entered date when importing from a XML file, so we can get an
+        incorrect fail.
+        """
+        
+        if self.db.readonly:
+            return False
+        elif self.obj.handle:
+            orig = self.get_from_handle(self.obj.handle)
+            if orig:
+                cmp_obj = orig
+            else:
+                cmp_obj = self.empty_object()
+            return cmp(cmp_obj.serialize(True)[1:],
+                       self.obj.serialize(True)[1:]) != 0
+        else:
+            cmp_obj = self.empty_object()
+            return cmp(cmp_obj.serialize(True)[1:],
+                       self.obj.serialize()[1:]) != 0
+
 class DeleteCitationQuery(object):
     def __init__(self, dbstate, uistate, citation, the_lists):
         self.citation = citation