diff --git a/src/engine/Transaction.c b/src/engine/Transaction.c
index abf2efd298..72ed9c0b8c 100644
--- a/src/engine/Transaction.c
+++ b/src/engine/Transaction.c
@@ -133,6 +133,53 @@ MarkChanged (Transaction *trans)
 /********************************************************************\
 \********************************************************************/
 
+void
+xaccSplitDestroy (Split *split)
+{
+   Transaction *trans;
+   int numsplits = 0;
+   int ismember = 0;
+   Split *s;
+
+   trans = split->parent;
+   assert (trans);
+   assert (trans->splits);
+
+   numsplits = 0;
+   s = trans->splits[0];
+   while (s) {
+      if (s == split) ismember = 1;
+      numsplits ++;
+      s = trans->splits[numsplits];
+   }
+   assert (ismember);
+
+   /* if the accoount has three or more splits, 
+    * merely unlink & free the split. 
+    */
+   if (2 < numsplits) {
+      xaccTransRemoveSplit (trans, split);
+      xaccAccountRemoveSplit (split->acc, split);
+      xaccFreeSplit (split);
+      xaccSplitRebalance (trans->splits[1]);
+   } else {
+      /* if the transaction has only two splits,
+       * remove both of them, and them destroy the 
+       * transaction. 
+       */
+      s = trans->splits[0];
+      xaccAccountRemoveSplit (split->acc, s);
+      xaccFreeSplit (s);
+      s = trans->splits[1];
+      xaccAccountRemoveSplit (split->acc, s);
+      xaccFreeSplit (s);
+      xaccFreeTransaction (trans);
+   }
+}
+
+/********************************************************************\
+\********************************************************************/
+
 int
 xaccCountSplits (Split **tarray)
 {
@@ -491,12 +538,6 @@ xaccTransRemoveSplit (Transaction *trans, Split *split)
      s = trans->splits[n];
    }
    trans->splits[i] = NULL;
-
-   /* force double entry to always be consistent */
-   xaccTransRebalance (trans);
-
-   /* hack alert -- this leaves open the possibility of a danglig split!
-    * */
 }
 
 /********************************************************************\
diff --git a/src/engine/Transaction.h b/src/engine/Transaction.h
index 8efebe5eb2..430c72657d 100644
--- a/src/engine/Transaction.h
+++ b/src/engine/Transaction.h
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ void          xaccTransSetDateToday (Transaction *);
 
 void          xaccTransSetNum (Transaction *, const char *);
 void          xaccTransSetDescription (Transaction *, const char *);
+
+/* The xaccTransSetMemo() and xaccTransSetAction() methods are
+ * convenience routines to keep the memo and action fields
+ * of two-split trasnactions in sync.  If the transaction has
+ * precisely two splits, then these routines will set the memo 
+ * and action of both splits.   Otherwise, they will set the
+ * memo and action of the first split (source split) only.
+ */
 void          xaccTransSetMemo (Transaction *, const char *);
 void          xaccTransSetAction (Transaction *, const char *);
 
diff --git a/src/engine/TransactionP.h b/src/engine/TransactionP.h
index 8454c0dba3..7d605e7ea2 100644
--- a/src/engine/TransactionP.h
+++ b/src/engine/TransactionP.h
@@ -107,9 +107,15 @@ struct _transaction
 
 /* freeTransaction only does so if the transaction is not part of an
  * account. (i.e. if none of the member splits are in an account). */
-void          xaccFreeTransaction (Transaction *);
+void  xaccFreeTransaction (Transaction *);
 
-void          xaccFreeSplit   (Split *);    /* frees memory */
+void  xaccFreeSplit   (Split *);    /* frees memory */
+
+/* The xaccTransRemoveSplit() routine will remove the indicated
+ *    split from the transaction.  It will *NOT* otherwise 
+ *    readjust balances, modify accounts, etc.
+ */
+void  xaccTransRemoveSplit (Transaction*, Split *);
 
 
 /*