diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_misc.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_misc.py
index 1212581f1d2..598e62607fc 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_misc.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_misc.py
@@ -90,6 +90,30 @@ class MiscTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             db1.close()
             os.unlink(self.filename)
 
+    def test_DB_set_flags_persists(self):
+        try:
+            db1 = db.DB()
+            db1.set_flags(db.DB_DUPSORT)
+            db1.open(self.filename, db.DB_HASH, db.DB_CREATE)
+            db1['a'] = 'eh'
+            db1['a'] = 'A'
+            self.assertEqual([('a', 'A')], db1.items())
+            db1.put('a', 'Aa')
+            self.assertEqual([('a', 'A'), ('a', 'Aa')], db1.items())
+            db1.close()
+            db1 = db.DB()
+            # no set_flags call, we're testing that it reads and obeys
+            # the flags on open.
+            db1.open(self.filename, db.DB_HASH)
+            self.assertEqual([('a', 'A'), ('a', 'Aa')], db1.items())
+            # if it read the flags right this will replace all values
+            # for key 'a' instead of adding a new one.  (as a dict should)
+            db1['a'] = 'new A'
+            self.assertEqual([('a', 'new A')], db1.items())
+        finally:
+            db1.close()
+            os.unlink(self.filename)
+
 
 #----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index ff209565673..31898d7fb3b 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -822,6 +822,14 @@ Extension Modules
 - Bug #1233: fix bsddb.dbshelve.DBShelf append method to work as
   intended for RECNO databases.
 
+- pybsddb.sf.net Bug #477182: Load the database flags at database open
+  time so that opening a database previously created with the DB_DUP or
+  DB_DUPSORT flag set will keep the proper behavior on subsequent opens.
+  Specifically: dictionary assignment to a DB object will replace all
+  values for a given key when the database allows duplicate values.
+  DB users should use DB.put(k, v) when they want to store duplicates; not
+  DB[k] = v.
+
 - Bug #1686475: Support stat'ing open files on Windows again.
 
 - Patch #1185447: binascii.b2a_qp() now correctly quotes binary characters
diff --git a/Modules/_bsddb.c b/Modules/_bsddb.c
index d03f72b8446..95ccb438dd6 100644
--- a/Modules/_bsddb.c
+++ b/Modules/_bsddb.c
@@ -1836,21 +1836,6 @@ DB_open(DBObject* self, PyObject* args, PyObject* kwargs)
         return NULL;
     }
 
-#if 0 && (DBVER >= 41)
-    if ((!txn) && (txnobj != Py_None) && self->myenvobj
-        && (self->myenvobj->flags & DB_INIT_TXN))
-    {
-	/* If no 'txn' parameter was supplied (no DbTxn object and None was not
-	 * explicitly passed) but we are in a transaction ready environment:
-	 *   add DB_AUTO_COMMIT to allow for older pybsddb apps using transactions
-	 *   to work on BerkeleyDB 4.1 without needing to modify their
-	 *   DBEnv or DB open calls. 
-	 * TODO make this behaviour of the library configurable.
-	 */
-	flags |= DB_AUTO_COMMIT;
-    }
-#endif
-
     MYDB_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS;
 #if (DBVER >= 41)
     err = self->db->open(self->db, txn, filename, dbname, type, flags, mode);
@@ -1864,6 +1849,8 @@ DB_open(DBObject* self, PyObject* args, PyObject* kwargs)
         return NULL;
     }
 
+    self->db->get_flags(self->db, &self->setflags);
+
     self->flags = flags;
     RETURN_NONE();
 }