diff --git a/src/gnome/window-reconcile.c b/src/gnome/window-reconcile.c
index e38d8bac8d..71cc187b9d 100644
--- a/src/gnome/window-reconcile.c
+++ b/src/gnome/window-reconcile.c
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ struct _RecnWindow
   time_t statement_date;    /* The statement date                   */
   gboolean use_shares;      /* Use share balances                   */
 
+  sort_type_t debit_sort;   /* Sorting style of the debit list      */
+  sort_type_t credit_sort;  /* Sorting style of the credit list     */
+
   GtkWidget *window;        /* The reconcile window                 */
 
   GtkWidget *toolbar;       /* Toolbar widget                       */
@@ -813,11 +816,21 @@ gnc_reconcile_sort(RecnWindow *recnData, GNCReconcileListType list_type,
                    sort_type_t sort_code)
 {
   GNCReconcileList *list;
+  sort_type_t *old_type_p;
 
   if (list_type == RECLIST_DEBIT)
+  {
     list = GNC_RECONCILE_LIST(recnData->debit);
+    old_type_p = &recnData->debit_sort;
+  }
   else
+  {
     list = GNC_RECONCILE_LIST(recnData->credit);
+    old_type_p = &recnData->credit_sort;
+  }
+
+  if (sort_code == *old_type_p)
+    return;
 
   switch(sort_code)
   {
@@ -836,6 +849,8 @@ gnc_reconcile_sort(RecnWindow *recnData, GNCReconcileListType list_type,
       break;
   }
 
+  *old_type_p = sort_code;
+
   gnc_reconcile_list_refresh(GNC_RECONCILE_LIST(recnData->debit));
   gnc_reconcile_list_refresh(GNC_RECONCILE_LIST(recnData->credit));
 }
@@ -1275,6 +1290,8 @@ recnWindow(GtkWidget *parent, Account *account)
   recnData->statement_date = statement_date;
   recnData->window = gtk_window_new(GTK_WINDOW_TOPLEVEL);
   recnData->delete_refresh = FALSE;
+  recnData->debit_sort = BY_STANDARD;
+  recnData->credit_sort = BY_STANDARD;
 
   gnc_recn_set_window_name(recnData);
 
diff --git a/src/gnome/window-register.c b/src/gnome/window-register.c
index 58df0ae7b2..20c0e35d43 100644
--- a/src/gnome/window-register.c
+++ b/src/gnome/window-register.c
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ struct _RegWindow
 
   GnucashRegister *reg;
 
+  sort_type_t sort_type;
+
   RegDateWindow *date_window;
 
   /* Do we close the ledger when the window closes? */
@@ -265,6 +267,9 @@ gnc_register_change_style(RegWindow *regData, SplitRegisterStyle style)
 {
   SplitRegister *reg = regData->ledger->ledger;
 
+  if (style == reg->style)
+    return;
+
   xaccConfigSplitRegister(reg, reg->type, style);
 
   regData->ledger->dirty = 1;
@@ -317,6 +322,9 @@ gnc_register_sort(RegWindow *regData, sort_type_t sort_code)
 {
   Query *query = regData->ledger->query;
 
+  if (regData->sort_type == sort_code)
+    return;
+
   switch(sort_code)
   {
     case BY_STANDARD:
@@ -348,6 +356,8 @@ gnc_register_sort(RegWindow *regData, sort_type_t sort_code)
       assert(0); /* we should never be here */
   }
 
+  regData->sort_type = sort_code;
+
   regData->ledger->dirty = 1;
   xaccLedgerDisplayRefresh(regData->ledger);
 }
@@ -1551,7 +1561,7 @@ regWindowLedger(xaccLedgerDisplay *ledger)
   GtkWidget *table_frame;
   GtkWidget *statusbar;
 
-  regData = (RegWindow *) (ledger->gui_hook);
+  regData = ledger->gui_hook;
   if (regData != NULL)
     return regData;
 
@@ -1574,6 +1584,7 @@ regWindowLedger(xaccLedgerDisplay *ledger)
   regData->ledger = ledger;
   regData->close_ledger = GNC_T;
   regData->window = register_window;
+  regData->sort_type = BY_STANDARD;
 
   gnc_reg_set_window_name(regData);