diff --git a/src/engine/Transaction.c b/src/engine/Transaction.c
index 925ad8ba2b..7b9da77e38 100644
--- a/src/engine/Transaction.c
+++ b/src/engine/Transaction.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
 
 /* 
- * If the "force_double_entry" flag determines how 
+ * The "force_double_entry" flag determines how 
  * the splits in a transaction will be balanced. 
  *
  * The following values have significance:
@@ -185,6 +185,21 @@ xaccFreeSplit( Split *split )
 /********************************************************************\
 \********************************************************************/
 
+void
+xaccConfigSetForceDoubleEntry (int force) 
+{
+   force_double_entry = force;
+}
+
+int
+xaccConfigGetForceDoubleEntry (void) 
+{
+   return (force_double_entry);
+}
+
+/********************************************************************\
+\********************************************************************/
+
 #define MARK_SPLIT(split) {			\
    Account *acc = (Account *) ((split)->acc);	\
    if (acc) acc->changed = 1;			\
diff --git a/src/engine/Transaction.h b/src/engine/Transaction.h
index b0de2f4f2f..dad252614e 100644
--- a/src/engine/Transaction.h
+++ b/src/engine/Transaction.h
@@ -72,6 +72,27 @@ struct timespec64 {
 typedef struct timespec64 Timespec;
 
 /** PROTOTYPES ******************************************************/
+
+/*
+ * The xaccConfigSetForceDoubleEntry() and xaccConfigGetForceDoubleEntry()
+ *    set and get the "force_double_entry" flag.  This flag determines how
+ *    the splits in a transaction will be balanced.
+ *
+ *    The following values have significance:
+ *    0 -- anything goes
+ *    1 -- The sum of all splits in a transaction will be
+ *         forced to be zero, even if this requires the
+ *         creation of additional splits.  Note that a split
+ *         whose value is zero (e.g. a stock price) can exist
+ *         by itself. Otherwise, all splits must come in at
+ *         least pairs.
+ *    2 -- splits without parents will be forced into a
+ *         lost & found account.  (Not implemented)
+ */
+
+void   xaccConfigSetForceDoubleEntry (int force);
+int    xaccConfigGetForceDoubleEntry (void);
+
 /*
  * The xaccMallocTransaction() will malloc memory and initilize it.
  *    Once created, it is usually unsafe to merely "free" this memory;