diff --git a/changelog b/changelog
index 74d2db707d0..a7f5c61487e 100644
--- a/changelog
+++ b/changelog
@@ -287,6 +287,8 @@ Version 1.13.0-dev:
    * Imagepath function "~NEG": gives the image a photographic negative effect
    * Dropped support for [filter_side] in [gold] and [modify_ai], [theme] name=
      in place of id, and [object] duration=level.
+   * Allowed direct modification of unit.ellipse variable even if ellipse= is set
+     in [unit_type] or by an [object]
  * Miscellaneous and bug fixes:
    * replace 'fight_on_without_leader'=yes/no with defeat_condition=no_leader/
      no_units/always/never which allows the wml developer to decide when a side
diff --git a/src/unit.cpp b/src/unit.cpp
index 3ff3f634eaf..136dcc2671c 100644
--- a/src/unit.cpp
+++ b/src/unit.cpp
@@ -392,6 +392,9 @@ unit::unit(const config &cfg, bool use_traits, const vconfig* vcfg)
 	if (const config::attribute_value *v = cfg.get("cost")) {
 		unit_value_ = *v;
 	}
+	if (const config::attribute_value *v = cfg.get("ellipse")) {
+		cfg_["ellipse"] = *v;
+	}
 	if (const config::attribute_value *v = cfg.get("halo")) {
 		anim_comp_->clear_haloes();
 		cfg_["halo"] = *v;