diff --git a/django/db/backends/__init__.py b/django/db/backends/__init__.py
index ada0e038b4..d372384fc5 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/__init__.py
@@ -311,7 +311,8 @@ class BaseDatabaseWrapper(object):
         to decide in a managed block of code to decide whether there are open
         changes waiting for commit.
         """
-        self._dirty = True
+        if not self.autocommit:
+            self._dirty = True
 
     def set_clean(self):
         """
diff --git a/django/db/backends/postgresql_psycopg2/base.py b/django/db/backends/postgresql_psycopg2/base.py
index 385206221d..cc1d1ae567 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/postgresql_psycopg2/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/postgresql_psycopg2/base.py
@@ -202,10 +202,6 @@ class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
                 level = self.isolation_level
             self.connection.set_isolation_level(level)
 
-    def set_dirty(self):
-        if self.transaction_state and self.transaction_state[-1]:
-            super(DatabaseWrapper, self).set_dirty()
-
     def check_constraints(self, table_names=None):
         """
         To check constraints, we set constraints to immediate. Then, when, we're done we must ensure they