diff --git a/gdb/ChangeLog b/gdb/ChangeLog
index 257638b905..9f36dd967f 100644
--- a/gdb/ChangeLog
+++ b/gdb/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2003-11-06  Andrew Cagney  <cagney@redhat.com>
+	    Jeff Johnston  <jjohnstn@redhat.com>
+
+	* target.c (add_target): Only set "to_xfer_partial" when NULL.
+	(init_dummy_target): Set "to_xfer_partial".
+
 2003-11-06  Andrew Cagney  <cagney@redhat.com>
 
 	* stack.c (return_command): Warn when STRUCT_CONVENTION, and not
diff --git a/gdb/target.c b/gdb/target.c
index a21fd9f1d3..93087608b2 100644
--- a/gdb/target.c
+++ b/gdb/target.c
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ void
 add_target (struct target_ops *t)
 {
   /* Provide default values for all "must have" methods.  */
-  t->to_xfer_partial = default_xfer_partial;
+  if (t->to_xfer_partial == NULL)
+    t->to_xfer_partial = default_xfer_partial;
 
   if (!target_structs)
     {
@@ -1644,6 +1645,7 @@ init_dummy_target (void)
   dummy_target.to_stratum = dummy_stratum;
   dummy_target.to_find_memory_regions = dummy_find_memory_regions;
   dummy_target.to_make_corefile_notes = dummy_make_corefile_notes;
+  dummy_target.to_xfer_partial = default_xfer_partial;
   dummy_target.to_magic = OPS_MAGIC;
 }