diff --git a/src/mathed/math_parser.C b/src/mathed/math_parser.C
index c0176eefc4..62ab3f6382 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_parser.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_parser.C
@@ -1045,8 +1045,10 @@ void Parser::parse_into1(MathArray & array, unsigned flags, MathTextCodes code)
 			}
 			p->ensure(up);
 			parse_into(p->cell(up), FLAG_ITEM);
-			p->limits(limits);
-			limits = 0;
+			if (limits) {
+				p->limits(limits);
+				limits = 0;
+			}
 		}
 
 		else if (t.character() == ']' && (flags & FLAG_BRACK_END))
diff --git a/status.12x b/status.12x
index 5cd2aa8f04..bc02b5413c 100644
--- a/status.12x
+++ b/status.12x
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ What's new
 - fix bug with graphics files which name contain a '.'
 
 - fix bug in the xforms image loader, where images would be cropped by
-  a couple pixels
+  a few pixels
 
 - when a viewer has not been found (set to "none"), remove the
   corresponding View menu entry
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ What's new
 - fix bad latex output with math array environment included in an
   eqnarray environment
 
+- fix bug where \limits statements (as obtained in math with M-m l)
+  would not be read back from the lyx file.
+
 - do not output labels in latex when numbering is off
 
 - harmonize the behavior of delete and backspace in main text,