diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
index 4d84c6b77143559e0d4d6f0438ef24f058544ec7..f500235b45905073186c413cd1ffceb2a8814801 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractProject<P extends AbstractProject<P,R>,R extends A
     /**
      * True to suspend new builds.
      */
-    public boolean disabled;
+    protected boolean disabled;
 
     /**
      * Identifies {@link JDK} to be used.
@@ -228,6 +228,14 @@ public abstract class AbstractProject<P extends AbstractProject<P,R>,R extends A
         return disabled;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Marks the build as disabled.
+     */
+    public void makeDisabled(boolean b) throws IOException {
+        this.disabled = b;
+        save();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public BallColor getIconColor() {
         if(isDisabled())
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/scm/SubversionSCM.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/scm/SubversionSCM.java
index 456e07617066e55036249765ddcb8ea142231612..af65e80c76a087c347009a3f709eac32d5a98092 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/scm/SubversionSCM.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/scm/SubversionSCM.java
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ public class SubversionSCM extends SCM implements Serializable {
     private List<String> checkout(AbstractBuild build, FilePath workspace, TaskListener listener) throws IOException, InterruptedException {
         if (projectDeleted(listener)) {
             // Disable this project, see issue #763
-            build.getProject().disabled = true;
+            build.getProject().makeDisabled(true);
             return null;
         }
         Boolean isUpdatable = useUpdate && workspace.act(new IsUpdatableTask(this, listener));