diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_translation.py b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_translation.py
index 6ebd2721bd9..f1cf5982ec2 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_translation.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_translation.py
@@ -532,13 +532,24 @@ class ir_translation(osv.osv):
             records.check_field_access_rights(fmode, model_fields[mname])
             records.check_access_rule(fmode)
 
+    @api.constrains('type', 'name', 'value')
+    def _check_value(self):
+        for trans in self.with_context(lang=None):
+            if trans.type == 'model' and trans.value:
+                mname, fname = trans.name.split(',')
+                record = trans.env[mname].browse(trans.res_id)
+                field = record._fields[fname]
+                if callable(field.translate):
+                    # check whether applying (trans.src -> trans.value) then
+                    # (trans.value -> trans.src) gives the original value back
+                    value0 = field.translate(lambda term: None, record[fname])
+                    value1 = field.translate({trans.src: trans.value}.get, value0)
+                    value2 = field.translate({trans.value: trans.src}.get, value1)
+                    if value2 != value0:
+                        raise ValueError(_("Translation is not valid:\n%s") % trans.value)
+
     @api.model
     def create(self, vals):
-        if vals.get('type') == 'model' and vals.get('value'):
-            # check and sanitize value
-            mname, fname = vals['name'].split(',')
-            field = self.env[mname]._fields[fname]
-            vals['value'] = field.check_trans_value(vals['value'])
         record = super(ir_translation, self.sudo()).create(vals).with_env(self.env)
         record.check('create')
         self.clear_caches()
@@ -548,13 +559,6 @@ class ir_translation(osv.osv):
     def write(self, vals):
         if vals.get('value'):
             vals.setdefault('state', 'translated')
-            ttype = vals.get('type') or self[:1].type
-            if ttype == 'model':
-                # check and sanitize value
-                name = vals.get('name') or self[:1].name
-                mname, fname = name.split(',')
-                field = self.env[mname]._fields[fname]
-                vals['value'] = field.check_trans_value(vals['value'])
         elif vals.get('src') or not vals.get('value', True):
             vals.setdefault('state', 'to_translate')
         self.check('write')