diff --git a/mongoengine/base.py b/mongoengine/base.py
index c2f4d214..6b11d233 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base.py
@@ -755,9 +755,26 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
             if value:
                 continue
 
-            # If we've set a value that aint the default value save it.
+            # If we've set a value that ain't the default value unset it.
+            default = None
+
             if path in self._fields:
                 default = self._fields[path].default
+            else:  # Perform a full lookup for lists / embedded lookups
+                d = self
+                parts = path.split('.')
+                field_name = parts.pop()
+                for p in parts:
+                    if p.isdigit():
+                        d = d[int(p)]
+                    elif hasattr(d, '__getattribute__'):
+                        d = getattr(d, p)
+                    else:
+                        d = d.get(p)
+                if hasattr(d, '_fields'):
+                    default = d._fields[field_name].default
+
+            if default is not None:
                 if callable(default):
                     default = default()
                 if default != value:
diff --git a/tests/document.py b/tests/document.py
index e1c536e5..146681bf 100644
--- a/tests/document.py
+++ b/tests/document.py
@@ -1735,6 +1735,47 @@ class DocumentTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(person.age, 21)
         self.assertEquals(person.active, False)
 
+    def test_save_only_changed_fields_recursive(self):
+        """Ensure save only sets / unsets changed fields
+        """
+
+        class Comment(EmbeddedDocument):
+            published = BooleanField(default=True)
+
+        class User(self.Person):
+            comments_dict = DictField()
+            comments = ListField(EmbeddedDocumentField(Comment))
+            active = BooleanField(default=True)
+
+        User.drop_collection()
+
+        # Create person object and save it to the database
+        person = User(name='Test User', age=30, active=True)
+        person.comments.append(Comment())
+        person.save()
+        person.reload()
+
+        person = self.Person.objects.get()
+        self.assertTrue(person.comments[0].published)
+
+        person.comments[0].published = False
+        person.save()
+
+        person = self.Person.objects.get()
+        self.assertFalse(person.comments[0].published)
+
+        # Simple dict w
+        person.comments_dict['first_post'] = Comment()
+        person.save()
+
+        person = self.Person.objects.get()
+        self.assertTrue(person.comments_dict['first_post'].published)
+
+        person.comments_dict['first_post'].published = False
+        person.save()
+
+        person = self.Person.objects.get()
+        self.assertTrue(person.comments_dict['first_post'].published)
     def test_delete(self):
         """Ensure that document may be deleted using the delete method.
         """