diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ExportSourceImporter.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ExportSourceImporter.java
index 751c6df4d4..95aef73326 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ExportSourceImporter.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ExportSourceImporter.java
@@ -197,6 +197,11 @@ public class ExportSourceImporter implements ImporterJobSPI
             return null;
         }
 
+        public boolean allowReferenceWithinTransaction()
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterBootstrap.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterBootstrap.java
index 62e8b2ad94..9f1287f1bc 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterBootstrap.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterBootstrap.java
@@ -439,6 +439,15 @@ public class ImporterBootstrap
             // always use create new strategy for bootstrap import
             return UUID_BINDING.CREATE_NEW;
         }
+
+        /*
+         *  (non-Javadoc)
+         * @see org.alfresco.service.cmr.view.ImporterBinding#searchWithinTransaction()
+         */
+        public boolean allowReferenceWithinTransaction()
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
     }
     
     /**
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterComponent.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterComponent.java
index df677ce493..4bbd412542 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterComponent.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/importer/ImporterComponent.java
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ public class ImporterComponent
                     searchParameters.addStore(importedRef.context.getNodeRef().getStoreRef());
                     searchParameters.setLanguage(SearchService.LANGUAGE_LUCENE);
                     searchParameters.setQuery("PATH:\"" + importedRef.value + "\"");
-                    searchParameters.excludeDataInTheCurrentTransaction(false);
+                    searchParameters.excludeDataInTheCurrentTransaction((binding == null) ? true : !binding.allowReferenceWithinTransaction());
                     ResultSet resultSet = searchService.query(searchParameters);
                     try
                     {
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/view/ImporterBinding.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/view/ImporterBinding.java
index 8146a9d4d7..603bf6ce3f 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/view/ImporterBinding.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/view/ImporterBinding.java
@@ -41,7 +41,15 @@ public interface ImporterBinding
     public UUID_BINDING getUUIDBinding();
 
     /**
-     * Gets a value for the specified name - to support simple name / value binding
+     * Gets whether the search for imported node references should search within the import
+     * transaction or not.
+     * 
+     * @return true => search within import transaction;  false => only search existing committed items 
+     */
+    public boolean allowReferenceWithinTransaction();
+    
+    /**
+     * Gets a value for the specified name - to support simple name / value substitution
      * 
      * @param key   the value name
      * @return  the value