diff --git a/src/structures.py b/src/structures.py
index 090680d11..0919a28da 100644
--- a/src/structures.py
+++ b/src/structures.py
@@ -368,3 +368,5 @@ class PersistentDictionary(dict):
         fd = file(self.filename, 'w')
         fd.write(repr(self))
         fd.close()
+
+    flush = close
diff --git a/test/test_structures.py b/test/test_structures.py
index aeddc70da..737411eca 100644
--- a/test/test_structures.py
+++ b/test/test_structures.py
@@ -582,11 +582,23 @@ class PersistentDictionaryTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         d['foo'] = 'bar'
         d[1] = 2
         d.close()
-        d1 = PersistentDictionary('test.dict')
+        d2 = PersistentDictionary('test.dict')
         self.failUnless('foo' in d)
         self.assertEqual(d['foo'], 'bar')
         self.failUnless(1 in d)
         self.assertEqual(d[1], 2)
+        self.failUnless('foo' in d2)
+        self.assertEqual(d2['foo'], 'bar')
+        self.failUnless(1 in d2)
+        self.assertEqual(d2[1], 2)
+
+    def testFlush(self):
+        d = PersistentDictionary('test.dict')
+        d[1] = 2
+        d.flush()
+        d2 = PersistentDictionary('test.dict')
+        self.failUnless(1 in d2)
+        self.assertEqual(d2[1], 2)
         
 
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