diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.java
index 938f622df9..f716e53d3e 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.java
@@ -2101,7 +2101,7 @@ public class ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer extends AbstractLifecycleBean
                             ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.ROOT_ATTRIBUTE_PATH, 
                             ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.START_TIME_ATTRIBUTE);
                         ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.this.attributeService.setAttribute(
-                                -1,
+                                -1L,
                                 ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.ROOT_ATTRIBUTE_PATH, 
                                 ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.END_TIME_ATTRIBUTE);
                         ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer.this.attributeService.setAttribute(
diff --git a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest.java b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest.java
index 47fffe907d..4e1fca3523 100644
--- a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest.java
+++ b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/security/sync/ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest.java
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ import org.alfresco.service.namespace.QName;
 import org.alfresco.util.GUID;
 import org.alfresco.util.PropertyMap;
 import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
+import org.springframework.context.ApplicationEvent;
+import org.springframework.context.ApplicationListener;
 import org.springframework.context.support.ClassPathXmlApplicationContext;
 import org.springframework.context.support.StaticApplicationContext;
 
@@ -901,6 +903,30 @@ public class ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest extends TestCase
                 : AuthorityType.USER, shortName);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * A Test {@link ApplicationListener} that checks SyncEndTime before the SynchronizeEndEvent and SynchronizeDirectoryEndEvent events.
+     */
+    public static class TestSynchronizeEventListener implements ApplicationListener<ApplicationEvent>
+    {
+        private ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer synchronizer;
+        
+        public void setSynchronizer(ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizer synchronizer)
+        {
+            this.synchronizer = synchronizer;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void onApplicationEvent(ApplicationEvent event)
+        {
+            if (SynchronizeEndEvent.class.isAssignableFrom(event.getClass())
+                    || SynchronizeDirectoryEndEvent.class.isAssignableFrom(event.getClass()))
+            {
+                assertEquals(null, this.synchronizer.getSyncEndTime());
+            }
+        }
+        
+    }
+
     /**
      * A Mock {@link UserRegistry} that returns a fixed set of users and groups.
      */
diff --git a/source/test-resources/sync-test-context.xml b/source/test-resources/sync-test-context.xml
index 67be04f180..47bec0188d 100644
--- a/source/test-resources/sync-test-context.xml
+++ b/source/test-resources/sync-test-context.xml
@@ -73,4 +73,8 @@
     <!--  A fake applicaton context manager into which we can inject test-specific beans -->
     <bean id="testApplicationContextManager" class="org.alfresco.repo.security.sync.ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest$MockApplicationContextManager" />
 
+    <bean id="testSynchronizeEventListener" class="org.alfresco.repo.security.sync.ChainingUserRegistrySynchronizerTest$TestSynchronizeEventListener">
+        <property name="synchronizer" ref="testUserRegistrySynchronizer" />
+    </bean>
+
 </beans>
\ No newline at end of file