diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
index 828a8b41b63b1..44264bec7fa3f 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ def update_attribute(name, value)
       if record_update_timestamps
         timestamp_attributes_for_update_in_model.each do |column|
           hash[column] = read_attribute(column)
+          @changed_attributes.delete(column.to_s)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb
index 1075a60f07b32..5cddd07e82e9f 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb
@@ -21,24 +21,22 @@ module Timestamp
     end
     
     # Saves the record with the updated_at/on attributes set to the current time.
-    # If the save fails because of validation errors, an 
-    # ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid exception is raised. If an attribute name is passed,
-    # that attribute is used for the touch instead of the updated_at/on attributes.
+    # Please note that no validation is performed and no callbacks are executed.
+    # If an attribute name is passed, that attribute is updated along with 
+    # updated_at/on attributes.
     #
     # Examples:
     #
-    #   product.touch               # updates updated_at
-    #   product.touch(:designed_at) # updates the designed_at attribute
+    #   product.touch               # updates updated_at/on
+    #   product.touch(:designed_at) # updates the designed_at attribute and updated_at/on
     def touch(attribute = nil)
       current_time = current_time_from_proper_timezone
 
       if attribute
-        write_attribute(attribute, current_time)
+        self.update_attribute(attribute, current_time)
       else
-        timestamp_attributes_for_update_in_model.each { |column| write_attribute(column.to_s, current_time) }
+        timestamp_attributes_for_update_in_model.each { |column| self.update_attribute(column, current_time) }
       end
-
-      save!
     end
 
   private
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb
index 549c4af6b174f..f765540808703 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb
@@ -25,16 +25,26 @@ def test_saving_a_unchanged_record_doesnt_update_its_timestamp
   end
   
   def test_touching_a_record_updates_its_timestamp
+    previous_salary = @developer.salary
+    @developer.salary = previous_salary + 10000
     @developer.touch
     
     assert_not_equal @previously_updated_at, @developer.updated_at
+    assert_equal previous_salary + 10000, @developer.salary
+    assert @developer.salary_changed?, 'developer salary should have changed'
+    assert @developer.changed?, 'developer should be marked as changed'
+    @developer.reload
+    assert_equal previous_salary, @developer.salary
   end
   
   def test_touching_a_different_attribute
     previously_created_at = @developer.created_at
     @developer.touch(:created_at)
 
+    assert !@developer.created_at_changed? , 'created_at should not be changed'
+    assert !@developer.changed?, 'record should not be changed'
     assert_not_equal previously_created_at, @developer.created_at
+    assert_not_equal @previously_updated_at, @developer.updated_at
   end
   
   def test_saving_a_record_with_a_belongs_to_that_specifies_touching_the_parent_should_update_the_parent_updated_at