diff --git a/wp-admin/admin.php b/wp-admin/admin.php
index 289c8a325..2a65c30cf 100644
--- a/wp-admin/admin.php
+++ b/wp-admin/admin.php
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ if (isset($_GET['page'])) {
 		
 	if (! file_exists(ABSPATH . "wp-admin/import/$importer.php"))
 		die(__('Cannot load importer.'));
-
+	
 	include(ABSPATH . "wp-admin/import/$importer.php");
 
 	$parent_file = 'import.php';
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ if (isset($_GET['page'])) {
 
 	require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/upgrade-functions.php');
 
+	define('WP_IMPORTING', true);
+
 	call_user_func($wp_importers[$importer][2]);
 			
 	include(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/admin-footer.php');
diff --git a/wp-includes/functions-post.php b/wp-includes/functions-post.php
index e5ddbfd9f..b0167ddae 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions-post.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions-post.php
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ function wp_insert_post($postarr = array()) {
 
 	if ($post_status == 'publish') {
 		do_action('publish_post', $post_ID);
-		if ($post_pingback)
+		if ($post_pingback && !defined('WP_IMPORTING'))
 			$result = $wpdb->query("
 				INSERT INTO $wpdb->postmeta 
 				(post_id,meta_key,meta_value)