diff --git a/src/register/ledger-core/split-register-control.c b/src/register/ledger-core/split-register-control.c
index 88770c964e..f9a52fbea3 100644
--- a/src/register/ledger-core/split-register-control.c
+++ b/src/register/ledger-core/split-register-control.c
@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@ gnc_split_register_check_account (SplitRegister *reg,
     }
     else if (!gnc_commodity_equal(orig_com, new_com))
     {
-      DEBUG("Commodity now %s (was %s). Clearing rate.",
+      /* The commodity has changed but is not the original. Reset the rate. */
+      DEBUG("Commodity now %s (originally %s). Clearing rate.",
             new_com  ? gnc_commodity_get_mnemonic(new_com) : "NULL",
             orig_com ? gnc_commodity_get_mnemonic(orig_com) : "NULL");