Index: modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/graph/def/GraphElement.java
===================================================================
--- modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/graph/def/GraphElement.java	(revision 6522)
+++ modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/graph/def/GraphElement.java	(working copy)
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@
         Service service = services.getPersistenceService();
         if (service instanceof DbPersistenceService) {
           DbPersistenceService persistenceService = (DbPersistenceService) service;
-          return persistenceService.isTransactionActive() || persistenceService.getTransaction() == null;
+          return persistenceService.isTransactionActive() || !persistenceService.isTransactionExisting();
         }
       }
     }
Index: modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/db/DbPersistenceService.java
===================================================================
--- modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/db/DbPersistenceService.java	(revision 6522)
+++ modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/db/DbPersistenceService.java	(working copy)
@@ -196,6 +196,10 @@
     }
     return connection;
   }
+
+  public boolean isTransactionExisting() {
+    return transaction != null;
+  }
   
   public boolean isTransactionActive() {
     return transaction != null && transaction.isActive();
Index: modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/jta/JtaDbPersistenceService.java
===================================================================
--- modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/jta/JtaDbPersistenceService.java	(revision 6522)
+++ modules/core/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/jta/JtaDbPersistenceService.java	(working copy)
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@
  */
 package org.jbpm.persistence.jta;
 
+import javax.transaction.Status;
 import javax.transaction.SystemException;
+import javax.transaction.Transaction;
+import javax.transaction.TransactionManager;
 import javax.transaction.UserTransaction;
 
 import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
@@ -48,9 +51,22 @@
   }
 
   public boolean isTransactionActive() {
-    return isJtaTransactionInProgress();
+    Transaction t = getJtaTransaction();
+    try {
+        return (t != null) && (t.getStatus() == Status.STATUS_ACTIVE);
+    } catch (SystemException se) {
+        throw new JbpmException("could not obtain JTA Transaction status", se);
+    }
   }
 
+  public boolean isTransactionExisting() {
+      if (isTransactionExternallyManaged()) {
+          return getJtaTransaction() != null;
+      } else {
+          return super.isTransactionExisting();
+      }
+  }  
+  
   protected boolean isTransactionExternallyManaged() {
     return !isJtaTxCreated();
   }
@@ -105,6 +121,21 @@
     }
   }
 
+  private Transaction getJtaTransaction() {
+    SessionFactoryImplementor sessionFactory = (SessionFactoryImplementor) getSessionFactory();
+    TransactionManager tm = sessionFactory.getTransactionManager();
+    try {
+        if (tm != null) {
+            Transaction t = tm.getTransaction();
+            return t;
+        } else {
+            return null;
+        }
+    } catch (SystemException se) {
+        throw new JbpmException("could not obtain JTA Transaction", se);
+    }
+  }  
+    
   public boolean isJtaTxCreated() {
     return userTransaction != null;
   }