adding to a loaded list is not reflected in the .size() method (and addAll() is possibly also affected) I created ExtraLazyTest.testExtraLazySet in the test suite that shows the issue. User person = (User) s.get(User.class, gavin.getName()); new Document( "Fresh", "word", person ); System.out.println("Writing out the persons documentes (Set). Expected to find 3 but it only contains 2."); for (Iterator iter = person.getDocuments().iterator(); iter.hasNext() { // changes should be written at this time... Document doc = (Document) iter.next(); System.out.println("phoneNumber: " + doc); } assertTrue(person.getDocuments().size() == 3); Changing PeristentSet.endRead() to: public boolean endRead() { set.addAll(tempList); tempList = null; return afterInitialize(); // ensures that operationQueue is considered. } makes it work.