diff --git a/src/obidms.c b/src/obidms.c
index 9b0354a..ffaf542 100755
--- a/src/obidms.c
+++ b/src/obidms.c
@@ -1420,6 +1420,8 @@ obiversion_t obi_import_column(const char* dms_path_1, const char* dms_path_2, c
 			obidebug(1, "\nError closing an imported column");
 			return -1;
 		}
+
+		(column_2->header)->finished = true;  // note: this is normally handled by the view that created the column
 		if (obi_close_column(column_2) < 0)
 		{
 			obidebug(1, "\nError closing an imported column");
@@ -1494,6 +1496,8 @@ obiversion_t obi_import_column(const char* dms_path_1, const char* dms_path_2, c
 			obidebug(1, "\nError closing an imported column");
 			return -1;
 		}
+
+		(column_2->header)->finished = true;  // note: this is normally handled by the view that created the column
 		if (obi_close_column(column_2) < 0)
 		{
 			obidebug(1, "\nError closing an imported column");