diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index bce26c5f..c9cdda52 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Changelog
 
 Changes in 0.8.2
 ================
+- Improved cascading saves write performance (#361)
 - Fixed amibiguity and differing behaviour regarding field defaults (#349)
 - ImageFields now include PIL error messages if invalid error (#353)
 - Added lock when calling doc.Delete() for when signals have no sender (#350)
diff --git a/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py b/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py
index 444d9a25..651228da 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ class DocumentMetaclass(type):
         attrs['_reverse_db_field_map'] = dict(
             (v, k) for k, v in attrs['_db_field_map'].iteritems())
 
+        # Set cascade flag if not set
+        if 'cascade' not in attrs['_meta']:
+            ReferenceField = _import_class('ReferenceField')
+            GenericReferenceField = _import_class('GenericReferenceField')
+            cascade = any([isinstance(x, (ReferenceField, GenericReferenceField))
+                           for x in doc_fields.values()])
+            attrs['_meta']['cascade'] = cascade
+
         #
         # Set document hierarchy
         #
diff --git a/mongoengine/document.py b/mongoengine/document.py
index 8e7ccc20..2bdecb77 100644
--- a/mongoengine/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/document.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from pymongo.read_preferences import ReadPreference
 from bson import ObjectId
 from bson.dbref import DBRef
 from mongoengine import signals
+from mongoengine.common import _import_class
 from mongoengine.base import (DocumentMetaclass, TopLevelDocumentMetaclass,
                               BaseDocument, BaseDict, BaseList,
                               ALLOW_INHERITANCE, get_document)
@@ -284,15 +285,17 @@ class Document(BaseDocument):
     def cascade_save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Recursively saves any references /
            generic references on an objects"""
-        import fields
         _refs = kwargs.get('_refs', []) or []
 
+        ReferenceField = _import_class('ReferenceField')
+        GenericReferenceField = _import_class('GenericReferenceField')
+
         for name, cls in self._fields.items():
-            if not isinstance(cls, (fields.ReferenceField,
-                                    fields.GenericReferenceField)):
+            if not isinstance(cls, (ReferenceField,
+                                    GenericReferenceField)):
                 continue
 
-            ref = getattr(self, name)
+            ref = self._data.get(name)
             if not ref or isinstance(ref, DBRef):
                 continue
 
diff --git a/tests/document/instance.py b/tests/document/instance.py
index cdc6fe08..f4abd027 100644
--- a/tests/document/instance.py
+++ b/tests/document/instance.py
@@ -646,6 +646,22 @@ class InstanceTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
             self.assertEqual(b.picture, b.bar.picture, b.bar.bar.picture)
 
+    def test_setting_cascade(self):
+
+        class ForcedCascade(Document):
+            meta = {'cascade': True}
+
+        class Feed(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        class Subscription(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+            feed = ReferenceField(Feed)
+
+        self.assertTrue(ForcedCascade._meta['cascade'])
+        self.assertTrue(Subscription._meta['cascade'])
+        self.assertFalse(Feed._meta['cascade'])
+
     def test_save_cascades(self):
 
         class Person(Document):
@@ -1018,6 +1034,96 @@ class InstanceTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(person.age, 21)
         self.assertEqual(person.active, False)
 
+    def test_query_count_when_saving(self):
+        """Ensure references don't cause extra fetches when saving"""
+        class Organization(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        class User(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+            orgs = ListField(ReferenceField('Organization'))
+
+        class Feed(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        class UserSubscription(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+            user = ReferenceField(User)
+            feed = ReferenceField(Feed)
+
+        Organization.drop_collection()
+        User.drop_collection()
+        Feed.drop_collection()
+        UserSubscription.drop_collection()
+
+        self.assertTrue(UserSubscription._meta['cascade'])
+
+        o1 = Organization(name="o1").save()
+        o2 = Organization(name="o2").save()
+
+        u1 = User(name="Ross", orgs=[o1, o2]).save()
+        f1 = Feed(name="MongoEngine").save()
+
+        sub = UserSubscription(user=u1, feed=f1).save()
+
+        user = User.objects.first()
+        # Even if stored as ObjectId's internally mongoengine uses DBRefs
+        # As ObjectId's aren't automatically derefenced
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(user._data['orgs'][0], DBRef))
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(user.orgs[0], Organization))
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(user._data['orgs'][0], Organization))
+
+        # Changing a value
+        with query_counter() as q:
+            self.assertEqual(q, 0)
+            sub = UserSubscription.objects.first()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 1)
+            sub.name = "Test Sub"
+            sub.save()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 2)
+
+        # Changing a value that will cascade
+        with query_counter() as q:
+            self.assertEqual(q, 0)
+            sub = UserSubscription.objects.first()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 1)
+            sub.user.name = "Test"
+            self.assertEqual(q, 2)
+            sub.save()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 3)
+
+        # Changing a value and one that will cascade
+        with query_counter() as q:
+            self.assertEqual(q, 0)
+            sub = UserSubscription.objects.first()
+            sub.name = "Test Sub 2"
+            self.assertEqual(q, 1)
+            sub.user.name = "Test 2"
+            self.assertEqual(q, 2)
+            sub.save()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 4)  # One for the UserSub and one for the User
+
+        # Saving with just the refs
+        with query_counter() as q:
+            self.assertEqual(q, 0)
+            sub = UserSubscription(user=u1.pk, feed=f1.pk)
+            sub.validate()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 0)  # Check no change
+            sub.save()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 1)
+
+        # Saving new objects
+        with query_counter() as q:
+            self.assertEqual(q, 0)
+            user = User.objects.first()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 1)
+            feed = Feed.objects.first()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 2)
+            sub = UserSubscription(user=user, feed=feed)
+            self.assertEqual(q, 2)  # Check no change
+            sub.save()
+            self.assertEqual(q, 3)
+
     def test_set_unset_one_operation(self):
         """Ensure that $set and $unset actions are performed in the same
         operation.