diff --git a/tests/unit/framework/rbac/ManagerTestBase.php b/tests/unit/framework/rbac/ManagerTestBase.php
index 03d5354..542c1bb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/framework/rbac/ManagerTestBase.php
+++ b/tests/unit/framework/rbac/ManagerTestBase.php
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ abstract class ManagerTestBase extends TestCase
 		$this->assertTrue($item instanceof Item);
 		$this->assertTrue($this->auth->hasItemChild('reader', 'readPost'));
 		$item->name = 'readPost2';
+		$item->save();
 		$this->assertNull($this->auth->getItem('readPost'));
 		$this->assertEquals($this->auth->getItem('readPost2'), $item);
 		$this->assertFalse($this->auth->hasItemChild('reader', 'readPost'));
diff --git a/yii/rbac/Assignment.php b/yii/rbac/Assignment.php
index 5b6a607..b3aa74f 100644
--- a/yii/rbac/Assignment.php
+++ b/yii/rbac/Assignment.php
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ class Assignment extends Object
 	{
 		if ($this->_bizRule !== $value) {
 			$this->_bizRule = $value;
-			$this->_auth->saveAssignment($this);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -100,7 +99,14 @@ class Assignment extends Object
 	{
 		if ($this->_data !== $value) {
 			$this->_data = $value;
-			$this->_auth->saveAssignment($this);
 		}
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Saves the changes to an authorization assignment.
+	 */
+	public function save()
+	{
+		$this->_auth->saveAssignment($this);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/yii/rbac/Item.php b/yii/rbac/Item.php
index ef56a53..57a7f7e 100644
--- a/yii/rbac/Item.php
+++ b/yii/rbac/Item.php
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ class Item extends Object
 	private $_auth;
 	private $_type;
 	private $_name;
+	private $_oldName;
 	private $_description;
 	private $_bizRule;
 	private $_data;
@@ -116,9 +117,8 @@ class Item extends Object
 	public function setName($value)
 	{
 		if ($this->_name !== $value) {
-			$oldName = $this->_name;
+			$this->_oldName = $this->_name;
 			$this->_name = $value;
-			$this->_auth->saveItem($this, $oldName);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ class Item extends Object
 	{
 		if ($this->_description !== $value) {
 			$this->_description = $value;
-			$this->_auth->saveItem($this);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -156,7 +155,6 @@ class Item extends Object
 	{
 		if ($this->_bizRule !== $value) {
 			$this->_bizRule = $value;
-			$this->_auth->saveItem($this);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -175,7 +173,6 @@ class Item extends Object
 	{
 		if ($this->_data !== $value) {
 			$this->_data = $value;
-			$this->_auth->saveItem($this);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -272,4 +269,13 @@ class Item extends Object
 	{
 		return $this->_auth->getAssignment($userId, $this->_name);
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Saves an authorization item to persistent storage.
+	 */
+	public function save()
+	{
+		$this->_auth->saveItem($this, $this->_oldName);
+		unset($this->_oldName);
+	}
 }