diff --git a/include/xbps_api.h b/include/xbps_api.h
index e004970a..c2363d3e 100644
--- a/include/xbps_api.h
+++ b/include/xbps_api.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
  */
 #define XBPS_PKGINDEX_VERSION	"1.3"
 
-#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20111224-2"
+#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20111228"
 #define XBPS_VERSION		"0.12"
 
 /**
@@ -1153,20 +1153,24 @@ int xbps_array_replace_dict_by_name(prop_array_t array,
  * @param[in] pkg_dict A dictionary with the following objects:
  * \a pkgname, \a version, \a pkgver, \a short_desc (string),
  * \a automatic-install (bool) and optionally \a provides (array of strings).
+ * @param[in] flush Set to true to make sure that regpkgdb plist
+ * is written to storage on success.
  *
  * @return 0 on success, otherwise an errno value.
  */
-int xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkg_dict);
+int xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkg_dict, bool flush);
 
 /**
  * Unregister a package from the package database.
  *
  * @param[in] pkgname Package name.
  * @param[in] version Package version.
+ * @param[in] flush Set to true to make sure that regpkgdb plist
+ * is written to storage on success.
  *
  * @return 0 on success, otherwise an errno value.
  */
-int xbps_unregister_pkg(const char *pkgname, const char *version);
+int xbps_unregister_pkg(const char *pkgname, const char *version, bool flush);
 
 /*@}*/
 
diff --git a/lib/package_register.c b/lib/package_register.c
index 1ef02f6d..c55d7f80 100644
--- a/lib/package_register.c
+++ b/lib/package_register.c
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@
  */
 
 int
-xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkgrd)
+xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkgrd, bool flush)
 {
 	struct xbps_handle *xhp;
-	prop_dictionary_t pkgd;
-	prop_array_t provides, reqby, array;
+	prop_dictionary_t pkgd = NULL;
+	prop_array_t provides, reqby;
 	const char *pkgname, *version, *desc, *pkgver;
 	int rv = 0;
 	bool autoinst = false;
@@ -116,12 +116,6 @@ xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkgrd)
 			goto out;
 		}
 	}
-	array = prop_dictionary_get(xhp->regpkgdb, "packages");
-	rv = xbps_array_replace_dict_by_name(array, pkgd, pkgname);
-	if (rv != 0) {
-		prop_object_release(pkgd);
-		goto out;
-	}
 	/*
 	 * Add the requiredby objects for dependent packages.
 	 */
@@ -131,9 +125,13 @@ xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkgrd)
 			goto out;
 		}
 	}
-	prop_object_release(pkgd);
+	if (flush)
+		rv = xbps_regpkgdb_update(xhp, true);
 
 out:
+	if (pkgd != NULL)
+		prop_object_release(pkgd);
+
 	if (rv != 0) {
 		xbps_set_cb_state(XBPS_STATE_REGISTER_FAIL,
 		    rv, pkgname, version,
@@ -145,27 +143,25 @@ out:
 }
 
 int
-xbps_unregister_pkg(const char *pkgname, const char *version)
+xbps_unregister_pkg(const char *pkgname, const char *version, bool flush)
 {
 	struct xbps_handle *xhp;
-	int rv;
 
 	assert(pkgname != NULL);
 
-	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	if ((rv = xbps_regpkgdb_dictionary_init(xhp)) != 0)
-		return rv;
-
 	xbps_set_cb_state(XBPS_STATE_UNREGISTER, 0, pkgname, version, NULL);
 
-	if (!xbps_remove_pkg_from_dict_by_name(xhp->regpkgdb,
-	    "packages", pkgname)) {
+	if (!xbps_regpkgdb_remove_pkgd(pkgname)) {
 		xbps_set_cb_state(XBPS_STATE_UNREGISTER_FAIL,
 		    errno, pkgname, version,
 		    "%s: failed to unregister package: %s",
 		    pkgname, strerror(errno));
 		return errno;
 	}
+	if (flush) {
+		xhp = xbps_handle_get();
+		return xbps_regpkgdb_update(xhp, true);
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/lib/package_remove.c b/lib/package_remove.c
index 75c3b92d..2f47f3de 100644
--- a/lib/package_remove.c
+++ b/lib/package_remove.c
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ purge:
 	/*
 	 * Unregister package from regpkgdb.
 	 */
-	if ((rv = xbps_unregister_pkg(pkgname, version)) != 0)
+	if ((rv = xbps_unregister_pkg(pkgname, version, false)) != 0)
 		goto out;
 
 	xbps_set_cb_state(XBPS_STATE_REMOVE_DONE,
diff --git a/lib/transaction_commit.c b/lib/transaction_commit.c
index 3398f6bb..5f94648f 100644
--- a/lib/transaction_commit.c
+++ b/lib/transaction_commit.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ xbps_transaction_commit(prop_dictionary_t transd)
 			/*
 			 * Register package.
 			 */
-			if ((rv = xbps_register_pkg(obj)) != 0)
+			if ((rv = xbps_register_pkg(obj, false)) != 0)
 				goto out;
 		}
 	}