diff --git a/src/Filter.cpp b/src/Filter.cpp
index ba950f704..6e430c499 100644
--- a/src/Filter.cpp
+++ b/src/Filter.cpp
@@ -198,6 +198,16 @@ void Filter::subset (std::vector <Task>& output, bool applyContext /* = true */)
   context.timer_filter.stop ();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool Filter::hasModifications ()
+{
+  for (auto& a : context.cli2._args)
+    if (a.hasTag ("MODIFICATION"))
+      return true;
+
+  return false;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // If the filter contains no 'or', 'xor' or 'not' operators, and only includes
 // status values 'pending', 'waiting' or 'recurring', then the filter is
diff --git a/src/Filter.h b/src/Filter.h
index 80c84487a..21f76fd44 100644
--- a/src/Filter.h
+++ b/src/Filter.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ public:
 
   void subset (const std::vector <Task>&, std::vector <Task>&, bool applyContext = true);
   void subset (std::vector <Task>&, bool applyContext = true);
+  bool hasModifications ();
   bool pendingOnly ();
   void safety ();
   void disableSafety ();