Index: src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/AlignInLineAction.java
===================================================================
--- src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/AlignInLineAction.java	(revision 598)
+++ src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/AlignInLineAction.java	(working copy)
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.SequenceCommand;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.Node;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.OsmPrimitive;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.Way;
 
 /**
  * Aligns all selected nodes into a straight line (useful for
@@ -44,6 +45,14 @@
 				nodes.add((Node)osm);
 				itnodes.add((Node)osm);
 			}
+		// special case if no single nodes are selected and exactly one way is: 
+		// then use the way's nodes
+		if ((nodes.size() == 0) && (sel.size() == 1))
+			for (OsmPrimitive osm : sel)
+				if (osm instanceof Way) {
+					nodes.addAll(((Way)osm).nodes);
+					itnodes.addAll(((Way)osm).nodes);
+				}
 		if (nodes.size() < 3) {
 			JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Main.parent, tr("Please select at least three nodes."));
 			return;