diff --git a/js/id/core/history.js b/js/id/core/history.js
index 90cb947af..966e4a567 100644
--- a/js/id/core/history.js
+++ b/js/id/core/history.js
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ iD.History = function(context) {
         },
 
         toJSON: function() {
-            if (stack.length <= 1) return;
+            if (!this.hasChanges()) return;
 
             var allEntities = {},
                 baseEntities = {},
diff --git a/test/spec/core/history.js b/test/spec/core/history.js
index d8be41a63..4bcd1d477 100644
--- a/test/spec/core/history.js
+++ b/test/spec/core/history.js
@@ -272,6 +272,13 @@ describe("iD.History", function () {
     });
 
     describe("#toJSON", function() {
+        it("doesn't generate unsaveable changes", function() {
+            var node_1 = iD.Node({id: 'n-1'});
+            history.perform(iD.actions.AddEntity(node_1));
+            history.perform(iD.actions.DeleteNode('n-1'));
+            expect(history.toJSON()).to.be.not.ok;
+        });
+
         it("generates v3 JSON", function() {
             var node_1 = iD.Node({id: 'n-1'}),
                 node1 = iD.Node({id: 'n1'}),