diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index f63834ef6..a9159b714 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2008-04-03  Thomas Thurman  <tthurman@gnome.org>
+
+        * src/core/prefs.c (handle_preference_update_bool): preferences
+        which have a null target don't get updated! (#526016)
+
 2008-03-29  Lucas Rocha  <lucasr.at.mundo@gmail.com>
 
         * src/metacity.desktop.in, src/Makefile.am: make Metacity
diff --git a/src/core/prefs.c b/src/core/prefs.c
index 4ed06b6a3..7a1473f9e 100644
--- a/src/core/prefs.c
+++ b/src/core/prefs.c
@@ -586,6 +586,10 @@ handle_preference_update_bool (const gchar *key, GConfValue *value)
   if (cursor->key==NULL)
     /* Didn't recognise that key. */
     return FALSE;
+
+  if (cursor->target==NULL)
+    /* No work for us to do. */
+    return TRUE;
       
   if (value==NULL)
     {