diff --git a/src/rotp/model/colony/Colony.java b/src/rotp/model/colony/Colony.java
index ee41cbe08..9455170a0 100644
--- a/src/rotp/model/colony/Colony.java
+++ b/src/rotp/model/colony/Colony.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 import rotp.model.tech.TechMissileWeapon;
 import rotp.model.tech.TechTree;
 import rotp.ui.RotPUI;
+import rotp.ui.main.TransportDeploymentPanel;
 import rotp.ui.notifications.GNNNotification;
 import rotp.ui.notifications.InvadersKilledAlert;
 import rotp.ui.notifications.TransportsKilledAlert;
@@ -946,13 +947,15 @@ public void scheduleTransportsToSystem(StarSystem dest, int pop, float travelTim
         }
     }
     public void scheduleTransportsToSystem(StarSystem dest, int pop) {
-        // adjust pop to max allowed
-
-        int xPop = min(pop, maxTransportsAllowed());
-        log("Scheduling " + xPop + " transports from: " + starSystem().name() + "  to: " + dest.name());
+        // If pop is the entire current population then accept it if abandonment is
+        // permitted, otherwise adjust it to the max allowed.
+        if (pop < population() || !TransportDeploymentPanel.enableAbandon) {
+            pop = min(pop, maxTransportsAllowed());
+        }
+        log("Scheduling " + pop + " transports from: " + starSystem().name() + "  to: " + dest.name());
 
         // if zero or to this system, then clear
-        if ((dest == starSystem()) || (xPop == 0))
+        if ((dest == starSystem()) || (pop == 0))
             clearTransport();
         else {
             transport().size(pop);
diff --git a/src/rotp/ui/main/TransportDeploymentPanel.java b/src/rotp/ui/main/TransportDeploymentPanel.java
index 33210c114..d72a08e09 100644
--- a/src/rotp/ui/main/TransportDeploymentPanel.java
+++ b/src/rotp/ui/main/TransportDeploymentPanel.java
@@ -46,6 +46,22 @@
 
 public class TransportDeploymentPanel extends SystemPanel {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    // NOTE: This use of a public static variable needs rework because it permits an in-game exploit:
+    // - Pick a system and abandon it to any valid target (own) system.
+    // - Select the same source system and click "Send Transports".
+    // - Choose any valid target system (which can include an enemy system).
+    // - Adjust the population to any value greater than half of but below the current full colony size.
+    // - Click the green "Send Transports" button to confirm.
+    // - Next turn the game ships the specified number of transports without abandoning the colony.
+    // This can be used to muster force against an enemy in excess of what should be possible, but
+    // it can also be used defensively or economically to rapidly populate one's own system(s) from
+    // back-line colonies.
+    // The essential nature of the issue is that committing the abandon action sets this global flag
+    // indefinitely until the regular transport action is invoked on some system. The most effective
+    // solution is to make the abandonment (intent) flag transient to the UI action and capture it
+    // elsewhere, perhaps in the transport object itself or in the colony object (latter would require
+    // differentiation from the "abandoned" flag that gets set when the population actually
+    // gets shipped).
     public static boolean enableAbandon = false;
     protected BasePanel topPane;
     protected BasePanel detailPane;