diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9769c04a..8a86f5a1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@
 	
 ### API changes on existing features (you may need to change your code)
 
+* On validation callbacks, XML_FLAG_ADD is added to all nodes at startup validation, not just the top-level. This is the same behaviour as for steady-state validation.
 * All hash_ functions have been prefixed with `clicon_` to avoid name collision with other packages (frr)
+  * All calls to the following functions must be changed: `hash_init`, `hash_free`, `hash_lookup`, `hash_value`, `hash_add`, `hash_del`, `hash_dump`, and `hash_keys`.
 * RESTCONF strict namespace validation of data in POST and PUT.
   * Accepted:
   ```
diff --git a/apps/backend/backend_commit.c b/apps/backend/backend_commit.c
index 61e7193f..1371d673 100644
--- a/apps/backend/backend_commit.c
+++ b/apps/backend/backend_commit.c
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@ startup_common(clicon_handle       h,
     xt = NULL;
     x = NULL;
     while ((x = xml_child_each(td->td_target, x, CX_ELMNT)) != NULL){
-	xml_flag_set(x, XML_FLAG_ADD);
+	xml_flag_set(x, XML_FLAG_ADD); /* Also down */
+	xml_apply(x, CX_ELMNT, (xml_applyfn_t*)xml_flag_set, (void*)XML_FLAG_ADD);
 	if (cxvec_append(x, &td->td_avec, &td->td_alen) < 0) 
 	    goto done;
     }