diff --git a/ckan/lib/dictization/model_dictize.py b/ckan/lib/dictization/model_dictize.py
index 73c82ce7f6f..5e57dae8a73 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/dictization/model_dictize.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/dictization/model_dictize.py
@@ -637,19 +637,13 @@ def vocabulary_list_dictize(vocabulary_list, context):
 def activity_dictize(activity, context, include_data=False):
     activity_dict = d.table_dictize(activity, context)
     if not include_data:
-        # take a copy of the activity data, since the original may be used
-        # elsewhere during the same render and we don't want to affect that
-        activity_dict['data'] = copy.deepcopy(activity_dict['data'])
-        # delete all the data apart from the title field on each data object,
-        # because that is needed to display it in the activity stream
-        for obj_key in activity_dict['data'].keys():
-            obj_data = activity_dict['data'][obj_key]
-            if isinstance(obj_data, dict):
-                for key in obj_data.keys():
-                    if key != 'title':
-                        del obj_data[key]
-            else:
-                del activity_dict['data'][obj_key]
+        # replace the data with just a {'title': title} and not the rest of
+        # the dataset/group/org/custom obj. we need the title to display it
+        # in the activity stream.
+        activity_dict['data'] = {
+            key: {'title': val['title']}
+            for (key, val) in activity_dict['data'].items()
+            if 'title' in val}
     return activity_dict
 
 
diff --git a/ckan/tests/lib/dictization/test_model_dictize.py b/ckan/tests/lib/dictization/test_model_dictize.py
index c26c0590990..35c577020b7 100644
--- a/ckan/tests/lib/dictization/test_model_dictize.py
+++ b/ckan/tests/lib/dictization/test_model_dictize.py
@@ -608,3 +608,51 @@ def test_vocabulary_dictize_not_including_datasets(self):
         assert len(vocab_dict["tags"]) == 2
         for tag in vocab_dict["tags"]:
             assert len(tag.get("packages", [])) == 0
+
+
+class TestActivityDictize(object):
+    def setup(self):
+        helpers.reset_db()
+
+    def test_include_data(self):
+        dataset = factories.Dataset()
+        user = factories.User()
+        activity = factories.Activity(
+            user_id=user['id'],
+            object_id=dataset['id'],
+            revision_id=None,
+            activity_type='new package',
+            data={
+                'package': copy.deepcopy(dataset),
+                'actor': 'Mr Someone',
+            })
+        activity_obj = model.Activity.get(activity['id'])
+        context = {'model': model, 'session': model.Session}
+        dictized = model_dictize.activity_dictize(activity_obj, context,
+                                                  include_data=True)
+        assert_equal(dictized['user_id'], user['id'])
+        assert_equal(dictized['activity_type'], 'new package')
+        assert_equal(dictized['data']['package']['title'], dataset['title'])
+        assert_equal(dictized['data']['package']['id'], dataset['id'])
+        assert_equal(dictized['data']['actor'], 'Mr Someone')
+
+    def test_dont_include_data(self):
+        dataset = factories.Dataset()
+        user = factories.User()
+        activity = factories.Activity(
+            user_id=user['id'],
+            object_id=dataset['id'],
+            revision_id=None,
+            activity_type='new package',
+            data={
+                'package': copy.deepcopy(dataset),
+                'actor': 'Mr Someone',
+            })
+        activity_obj = model.Activity.get(activity['id'])
+        context = {'model': model, 'session': model.Session}
+        dictized = model_dictize.activity_dictize(activity_obj, context,
+                                                  include_data=False)
+        assert_equal(dictized['user_id'], user['id'])
+        assert_equal(dictized['activity_type'], 'new package')
+        assert_equal(dictized['data'],
+                     {'package': {'title': dataset['title']}})