diff --git a/src/MergeActivityWizard.cpp b/src/MergeActivityWizard.cpp
index bb79aeb30..0c74ae14d 100644
--- a/src/MergeActivityWizard.cpp
+++ b/src/MergeActivityWizard.cpp
@@ -1165,9 +1165,8 @@ MergeConfirm::MergeConfirm(MergeActivityWizard *parent) : QWizardPage(parent), w
 
     QLabel *label = new QLabel(tr("Press Finish to update the current ride with "
                                " the combined data.\n\n"
-                               "The changes will not be saved until you save them "
-                               " so you can check and revert or save.\n\n"
-                               "If you continue the ride will be updated, if you "
+                               "The changes will be saved and cannot be undone.\n\n"
+                               "If you press continue the ride will be saved, if you "
                                "do not want to continue either go back and change "
                                "the settings or press cancel to abort."));
     label->setWordWrap(true);
@@ -1179,9 +1178,10 @@ MergeConfirm::MergeConfirm(MergeActivityWizard *parent) : QWizardPage(parent), w
 bool
 MergeConfirm::validatePage()
 {
-    // We are done -- update BUT DOESNT SAVE
-    //                user can now check !
+    // We are done -- save and mark done
     wizard->current->setRide(wizard->combined);
-    wizard->context->notifyRideDirty();
+    wizard->context->mainWindow->saveSilent(wizard->context, wizard->current);
+    wizard->current->setDirty(false); // lose changes
+
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/RideItem.cpp b/src/RideItem.cpp
index 652ad1b83..7bd6779c2 100644
--- a/src/RideItem.cpp
+++ b/src/RideItem.cpp
@@ -72,9 +72,24 @@ RideItem::setRide(RideFile *overwrite)
 {
     RideFile *old = ride_;
     ride_ = overwrite; // overwrite
+
+    // connect up to new one
+    connect(ride_, SIGNAL(modified()), this, SLOT(modified()));
+    connect(ride_, SIGNAL(saved()), this, SLOT(saved()));
+    connect(ride_, SIGNAL(reverted()), this, SLOT(reverted()));
+
+    // don't bother with the old one any more
+    disconnect(old);
+
+    // update status
     setDirty(true);
     notifyRideDataChanged();
-    delete old; // now wipe it once referrers had chance to change
+
+    //XXX SORRY ! memory leak XXX
+    //XXX delete old; // now wipe it once referrers had chance to change
+    //XXX this is only used by MergeActivityWizard and causes issues
+    //XXX because the data is accessed in separate threads (Wizard is a dialog)
+    //XXX because it is such an edge case (Merge) we will leave it for now
 }
 
 void