diff --git a/src/engine/Scrub2.c b/src/engine/Scrub2.c
index b1031f3232..a9d36b600f 100644
--- a/src/engine/Scrub2.c
+++ b/src/engine/Scrub2.c
@@ -116,9 +116,6 @@ xaccLotScrubDoubleBalance (GNCLot *lot)
 
    if (!lot) return;
 
-   /* We examine only closed lots */
-   if (FALSE == gnc_lot_is_closed (lot)) return;
-
    ENTER ("lot=%s", kvp_frame_get_string (gnc_lot_get_slots (lot), "/title"));
 
    for (snode = lot->splits; snode; snode=snode->next)
@@ -127,6 +124,9 @@ xaccLotScrubDoubleBalance (GNCLot *lot)
 		xaccSplitComputeCapGains (s, NULL);
    }
 
+   /* We double-check only closed lots */
+   if (FALSE == gnc_lot_is_closed (lot)) return;
+
    for (snode = lot->splits; snode; snode=snode->next)
    {
       Split *s = snode->data;
diff --git a/src/engine/cap-gains.c b/src/engine/cap-gains.c
index 929b3b4807..1b5064439d 100644
--- a/src/engine/cap-gains.c
+++ b/src/engine/cap-gains.c
@@ -500,7 +500,11 @@ xaccSplitComputeCapGains(Split *split, Account *gain_acc)
    if (!lot) return;
    currency = split->parent->common_currency;
 
-   ENTER ("lot=%s", kvp_frame_get_string (gnc_lot_get_slots (lot), "/title"));
+   ENTER ("split=%p lot=%s", split,
+       kvp_frame_get_string (gnc_lot_get_slots (lot), "/title"));
+
+   /* Make sure this isn't a cap-gains split itself; ignore these. */
+   if (gnc_numeric_zero_p (split->amount)) return;
 
    opening_split = gnc_lot_get_earliest_split(lot);
    if (split == opening_split)
@@ -508,7 +512,10 @@ xaccSplitComputeCapGains(Split *split, Account *gain_acc)
       /* Check to make sure this split doesn't have a cap-gain 
        * transaction associated with it.  If it does, that's
        * wrong, and we ruthlessly destroy it.
+       * XXX Don't do this, it leads to infinite loops.
+       * We need to scrub out errors like this elsewhere!
        */
+#if MOVE_THIS_ELSEWHERE
       if (xaccSplitGetCapGainsSplit (split))
       {
          Split *gains_split = xaccSplitGetCapGainsSplit(split);
@@ -519,6 +526,7 @@ xaccSplitComputeCapGains(Split *split, Account *gain_acc)
          xaccTransDestroy (trans);
          xaccTransCommitEdit (trans);
       }
+#endif
       return;
    }
    
@@ -564,7 +572,7 @@ xaccSplitComputeCapGains(Split *split, Account *gain_acc)
    value = gnc_numeric_div (value, opening_split->amount, 
                    gnc_numeric_denom(opening_split->value), GNC_DENOM_EXACT);
    
-   value = gnc_numeric_add (value, split->value,
+   value = gnc_numeric_sub (value, split->value,
                            GNC_DENOM_AUTO, GNC_DENOM_LCD);
    PINFO ("Open amt=%s val=%s;  split amt=%s val=%s; gains=%s\n",
           gnc_numeric_to_string (opening_split->amount),
@@ -672,4 +680,18 @@ xaccSplitComputeCapGains(Split *split, Account *gain_acc)
    LEAVE ("lot=%s", kvp_frame_get_string (gnc_lot_get_slots (lot), "/title"));
 }
 
+/* ============================================================== */
+
+gnc_numeric 
+xaccSplitGetCapGains(Split * split)
+{
+   if (!split) return gnc_numeric_zero();
+   split = xaccSplitGetCapGainsSplit (split);
+   if (!split) return gnc_numeric_zero();
+
+   /* XXX Do *not! recomp gains every time; use a 'dirty' flag instead */
+   xaccSplitComputeCapGains (split, NULL);
+   return split->value;
+}
+
 /* =========================== END OF FILE ======================= */
diff --git a/src/engine/cap-gains.h b/src/engine/cap-gains.h
index 9da95ceee4..0c24af64a5 100644
--- a/src/engine/cap-gains.h
+++ b/src/engine/cap-gains.h
@@ -45,6 +45,19 @@
 
 #include "gnc-engine.h"
 
+/** The xaccSplitGetCapGains() method returns the value of 
+ *    capital gains (if any) associated with the indicated 
+ *    split. In order for there to be any capital gains, 
+ *    several things must hold true about this split:
+ *    (1) It must have been involved in trading (for aexample,
+ *        by belonging to a stock or trading account)
+ *    (2) It must have been assigned to a lot.
+ *    (3) It cannot be the opening split of a lot; that
+ *        is, it must be a matching sale of an earlier purchase
+ *        (or vice versa).
+ */
+gnc_numeric xaccSplitGetCapGains(Split *);
+
 /** The xaccAccountHasTrades() method checks to see if the 
  *    indicated account is used in the trading of commodities.
  *    A 'trading' account will contain transactions whose