diff --git a/tools/ocaml/xenstored/process.ml b/tools/ocaml/xenstored/process.ml
index 88fea3467a..c1511c0771 100644
--- a/tools/ocaml/xenstored/process.ml
+++ b/tools/ocaml/xenstored/process.ml
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ let do_transaction_end con t domains cons data =
 		| x :: _   -> raise (Invalid_argument x)
 		| _        -> raise Invalid_Cmd_Args
 		in
+	let commit = commit && not (Transaction.is_read_only t) in
 	let success =
 		let commit = if commit then Some (fun con trans -> transaction_replay con trans domains cons) else None in
 		History.end_transaction t con (Transaction.get_id t) commit in
diff --git a/tools/ocaml/xenstored/transaction.ml b/tools/ocaml/xenstored/transaction.ml
index edd1178d80..8f95301953 100644
--- a/tools/ocaml/xenstored/transaction.ml
+++ b/tools/ocaml/xenstored/transaction.ml
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ let make ?(internal=false) id store =
 let get_store t = t.store
 let get_paths t = t.paths
 
+let is_read_only t = t.paths = []
 let add_wop t ty path = t.paths <- (ty, path) :: t.paths
 let add_operation ~perm t request response =
 	if !Define.maxrequests >= 0