diff --git a/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/__init__.py b/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/__init__.py
index a0c614a25..fe85ca0b5 100644
--- a/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/__init__.py
+++ b/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/__init__.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ the database objects. Read the comments in _GrampsDBCallback.py for more
 information.
 """
 
-from _GrampsDbBase import DbState
+from _GrampsDbBase import DbState, GrampsDbBase
 
 from _GrampsDbFactories import \
      gramps_db_factory, \
diff --git a/gramps2/src/ViewManager.py b/gramps2/src/ViewManager.py
index 57c35db53..87ce114d9 100644
--- a/gramps2/src/ViewManager.py
+++ b/gramps2/src/ViewManager.py
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ class ViewManager:
     def read_file(self,filename,callback=None):
         mode = "w"
         filename = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(filename))
-        
+
         if os.path.isdir(filename):
             ErrorDialog(_('Cannot open database'),
                         _('The selected file is a directory, not '
@@ -736,6 +736,13 @@ class ViewManager:
         except:
             print "could not change directory"
 
+
+        # emit the database change signal so the that models do not
+        # attempt to update the screen while we are loading the
+        # new data
+        
+        self.state.emit('database-changed',(GrampsDb.GrampsDbBase(),))
+
         try:
             if self.load_database(filename,callback,mode=mode):
                 if filename[-1] == '/':