Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/JoinAreasAction.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/JoinAreasAction.java	(revision 17166)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/JoinAreasAction.java	(revision 17167)
@@ -28,5 +28,4 @@
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.ChangeCommand;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.ChangeNodesCommand;
-import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.ChangePropertyCommand;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.Command;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.DeleteCommand;
@@ -1720,5 +1719,7 @@
     private void stripTags(Collection<Way> ways) {
         for (Way w : ways) {
-            cmds.add(new ChangePropertyCommand(Collections.singleton(w), Collections.emptyMap()));
+            final Way wayWithoutTags = new Way(w);
+            wayWithoutTags.removeAll();
+            cmds.add(new ChangeCommand(w, wayWithoutTags));
         }
         /* I18N: current action printed in status display */