diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
index 14acb5023..61be79282 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
@@ -560,10 +560,11 @@ amountwithoutpricep = do
         suggestedStyle <- getDefaultAmountStyle
         (q,prec,mdec,mgrps) <- lift $ interpretNumber numRegion suggestedStyle ambiguousRawNum mExponent
         -- if a default commodity has been set, apply it and its style to this amount
+        -- (unless it's a multiplier in an automated posting)
         defcs <- getDefaultCommodityAndStyle
-        let (c,s) = case defcs of
-              Just (defc,defs) -> (defc, defs{asprecision=max (asprecision defs) prec})
-              Nothing          -> ("", amountstyle{asprecision=prec, asdecimalpoint=mdec, asdigitgroups=mgrps})
+        let (c,s) = case (mult, defcs) of
+              (False, Just (defc,defs)) -> (defc, defs{asprecision=max (asprecision defs) prec})
+              _ -> ("", amountstyle{asprecision=prec, asdecimalpoint=mdec, asdigitgroups=mgrps})
         return $ Amount c (sign q) NoPrice s mult
 
   -- For reducing code duplication. Doesn't parse anything. Has the type
diff --git a/tests/journal/default-commodity.test b/tests/journal/default-commodity.test
index 9c400f149..754f2bbee 100644
--- a/tests/journal/default-commodity.test
+++ b/tests/journal/default-commodity.test
@@ -72,29 +72,22 @@ D $1,000.0
 
 >>>=0
 
-# 6. A default commodity should not disrupt automated posting amounts.
-#hledger -f- print --auto
-#<<<
-#commodity 1,000.00 EUR
-#
-#D 1,000.00 EUR
-#
-#alias /Assets:Depot:([^:]+):(.*)/ = Assets:Depot:\1
-#
-#= ^Assets:Depot
-#  [Assets:Depot]    *-1
-#  [Assets:Savings]  *1
-#
-#2018/01/01 * Buying Shares
-#  Assets:Depot:LyxorACWI:20180101  0.43346 LyxorACWI @@ 100.00 EUR
-#  Assets:Checking
-#
-#>>>
-#2018/01/01 * Buying Shares
-#    Assets:Depot:LyxorACWI     0.43346 LyxorACWI @@ 100.00 EUR
-#    [Assets:Depot]            -0.43346 LyxorACWI @@ 100.00 EUR
-#    [Assets:Savings]           0.43346 LyxorACWI @@ 100.00 EUR
-#    Assets:Checking
-#
-#>>>=
+# 6. A default commodity should not affect parsing of 
+# automated posting multiplier amounts.
+hledger -f- print --auto
+<<<
+D $1000.
+
+= a
+  (b)  *2
+
+2018/1/1
+  (a)  €1
+
+>>>
+2018/01/01
+    (a)              €1
+    (b)              €2
+
+>>>=