diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.c b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.c
index 1eab2489d8..83dde2e18e 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.c
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ enum
     PROP_FY_END,
     PROP_SHOW_DATE,
     PROP_DATE_BASE,
+    PROP_PS_ACTIVE,
 };
 
 enum
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ struct _GncPeriodSelectPrivate
 
 /*  Tells a GncPeriodSelect object to emit a "changed" signal.
  */
-void
+static void
 gnc_period_select_changed (GncPeriodSelect *period)
 {
     g_return_if_fail(GNC_IS_PERIOD_SELECT(period));
@@ -165,9 +166,8 @@ gnc_period_sample_update_date_label (GncPeriodSelect *period)
 
 /** Handle the "changed" signal from the GtkComboBox that is embedded
  *  in this GncPeriodSelect object.  When called, this function
- *  updates the feedback label embedded in the object, then generates
- *  another "changed" signal so that a developer can see that
- *  something in the object changed.
+ *  will delegate the actual update work to the GncPeriodSelect widget
+ *  to do the necessary updates of internal widgets and state.
  *
  *  @param box The combo box that changed.
  *
@@ -178,11 +178,10 @@ gnc_period_sample_combobox_changed (GtkComboBox *box, GncPeriodSelect *period)
 {
     g_return_if_fail(GNC_IS_PERIOD_SELECT(period));
 
-    /* Update this widget */
-    gnc_period_sample_update_date_label(period);
-
-    /* Pass it on... */
-    gnc_period_select_changed(period);
+    g_object_set (G_OBJECT (period),
+                  "active",
+                  gtk_combo_box_get_active (box),
+                  NULL);
 }
 
 
@@ -208,6 +207,40 @@ gnc_period_sample_new_date_format (GConfEntry *unused,
 /*                   Property Functions                     */
 /************************************************************/
 
+/*  Set an item in the GncPeriodSelect to be the active one.
+ *  This will first update the internal GtkCombobox (blocking
+ *  its "changed" callback to prevent an infinite loop).
+ *  Then it will update the sample label and finally it will
+ *  emit a "changed" signal of it's own for other objects
+ *  listening for this signal.
+ */
+static void
+gnc_period_select_set_active_internal (GncPeriodSelect *period,
+                                       GncAccountingPeriod which)
+{
+    GncPeriodSelectPrivate *priv;
+
+    g_return_if_fail(period != NULL);
+    g_return_if_fail(GNC_IS_PERIOD_SELECT(period));
+    g_return_if_fail(which >= 0);
+    g_return_if_fail(which <  GNC_ACCOUNTING_PERIOD_LAST);
+
+    priv = GNC_PERIOD_SELECT_GET_PRIVATE(period);
+
+    g_signal_handlers_block_by_func(G_OBJECT(period),
+                                    G_CALLBACK(gnc_period_sample_combobox_changed), period);
+    gtk_combo_box_set_active(GTK_COMBO_BOX(priv->selector), which);
+    g_signal_handlers_unblock_by_func(G_OBJECT(period),
+                                      G_CALLBACK(gnc_period_sample_combobox_changed), period);
+
+    /* Update this widget */
+    gnc_period_sample_update_date_label(period);
+
+    /* Pass it on... */
+    gnc_period_select_changed(period);
+}
+
+
 /** @name GncPeriodSelect Properties
  @{ */
 
@@ -413,6 +446,9 @@ gnc_period_select_get_property (GObject     *object,
     case PROP_DATE_BASE:
         g_value_set_pointer(value, gnc_period_select_get_date_base(period));
         break;
+    case PROP_PS_ACTIVE:
+        g_value_set_int(value, gnc_period_select_get_active(period));
+        break;
     default:
         G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID(object, prop_id, pspec);
         break;
@@ -447,6 +483,9 @@ gnc_period_select_set_property (GObject      *object,
     case PROP_DATE_BASE:
         gnc_period_select_set_date_base(period, g_value_get_pointer(value));
         break;
+    case PROP_PS_ACTIVE:
+        gnc_period_select_set_active_internal(period, g_value_get_int(value));
+        break;
     default:
         G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID(object, prop_id, pspec);
         break;
@@ -536,7 +575,7 @@ gnc_period_select_class_init (GncPeriodSelectClass *klass)
                                     PROP_SHOW_DATE,
                                     g_param_spec_boolean("show-date",
                                             "Show Date",
-                                            "Show the start/end date of the accouting period in this widget",
+                                            "Show the start/end date of the accounting period in this widget",
                                             FALSE,
                                             G_PARAM_READWRITE));
     g_object_class_install_property(gobject_class,
@@ -545,6 +584,15 @@ gnc_period_select_class_init (GncPeriodSelectClass *klass)
                                             "Date Base",
                                             "The starting date to use for display calculations",
                                             G_PARAM_READWRITE));
+    g_object_class_install_property(gobject_class,
+                                    PROP_PS_ACTIVE,
+                                    g_param_spec_int("active",
+                                            "Active period",
+                                            "The currently selected period in the list of periods",
+                                            -1,
+                                            G_MAXINT,
+                                            0,
+                                            G_PARAM_READWRITE));
 
     g_type_class_add_private(klass, sizeof(GncPeriodSelectPrivate));
 }
@@ -689,15 +737,12 @@ void
 gnc_period_select_set_active (GncPeriodSelect *period,
                               GncAccountingPeriod which)
 {
-    GncPeriodSelectPrivate *priv;
-
     g_return_if_fail(period != NULL);
     g_return_if_fail(GNC_IS_PERIOD_SELECT(period));
     g_return_if_fail(which >= 0);
     g_return_if_fail(which <  GNC_ACCOUNTING_PERIOD_LAST);
 
-    priv = GNC_PERIOD_SELECT_GET_PRIVATE(period);
-    gtk_combo_box_set_active(GTK_COMBO_BOX(priv->selector), which);
+    g_object_set (G_OBJECT (period), "active", which, NULL);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.h b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.h
index 566955b43d..2245c8686b 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.h
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-period-select.h
@@ -65,14 +65,6 @@ typedef struct
 GType gnc_period_select_get_type (void);
 
 
-/** Tells a GncPeriodSelect object to emit a "changed" signal.
- *
- *  @param period The GncPeriodSelect object that should emit the
- *  signal.
- */
-void gnc_period_select_changed (GncPeriodSelect *period);
-
-
 /** Create a new GncPeriodSelect widget which is used to select a
  *  accounting period like "previous month" or "this year".
  *