diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
index bf8089f042aca..34092cbb80f76 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
@@ -225,9 +225,8 @@ def reload(options = nil)
     #   @brake.touch
     def touch(name = nil)
       attributes = timestamp_attributes_for_update_in_model
-      unless attributes.blank?
-        attributes << name if name
-
+      attributes << name if name
+      unless attributes.empty?
         current_time = current_time_from_proper_timezone
         changes = {}
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb
index f2efc269ad970..2bc68fe978b03 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/timestamp_test.rb
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
 require 'models/pet'
 require 'models/toy'
 require 'models/car'
+require 'models/task'
 
 class TimestampTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
-  fixtures :developers, :owners, :pets, :toys, :cars
+  fixtures :developers, :owners, :pets, :toys, :cars, :tasks
 
   def setup
     @developer = Developer.first
     @previously_updated_at = @developer.updated_at
-    @car = Car.first
   end
 
   def test_saving_a_changed_record_updates_its_timestamp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def test_saving_when_record_timestamps_is_false_doesnt_update_its_timestamp
     Developer.record_timestamps = true
   end
 
-  def test_touching_a_different_attribute
+  def test_touching_an_attribute_updates_timestamp
     previously_created_at = @developer.created_at
     @developer.touch(:created_at)
 
@@ -60,8 +60,16 @@ def test_touching_a_different_attribute
     assert_not_equal @previously_updated_at, @developer.updated_at
   end
 
-  def test_touch_a_record_without_timestamps
-    assert_nothing_raised { @car.touch }
+  def test_touching_an_attribute_updates_it
+    task = Task.first
+    previous_value = task.ending
+    task.touch(:ending)
+    assert_not_equal previous_value, task.ending
+    assert_in_delta Time.now, task.ending, 1
+  end
+
+  def test_touching_a_record_without_timestamps_is_unexceptional
+    assert_nothing_raised { Car.first.touch }
   end
 
   def test_saving_a_record_with_a_belongs_to_that_specifies_touching_the_parent_should_update_the_parent_updated_at