diff --git a/src/buildstream/_stream.py b/src/buildstream/_stream.py
index d326b9532..a1d88d667 100644
--- a/src/buildstream/_stream.py
+++ b/src/buildstream/_stream.py
@@ -1168,6 +1168,7 @@ def workspace_reset(self, targets, *, soft):
                 self._context.messenger.info(
                     "Reset workspace state for {} at: {}".format(element.name, workspace_path)
                 )
+                workspaces.save_config()
                 continue
 
             self.workspace_close(element._get_full_name(), remove_dir=True)
diff --git a/tests/frontend/workspace.py b/tests/frontend/workspace.py
index e244c6005..14b8257f6 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/workspace.py
+++ b/tests/frontend/workspace.py
@@ -510,6 +510,7 @@ def test_reset(cli, tmpdir, datafiles):
 def test_reset_soft(cli, tmpdir, datafiles):
     # Open the workspace
     element_name, project, workspace = open_workspace(cli, tmpdir, datafiles, "tar")
+    workspace_config_path = os.path.join(project, ".bst2", "workspaces.yml")
 
     assert cli.get_element_state(project, element_name) == "buildable"
 
@@ -528,6 +529,10 @@ def test_reset_soft(cli, tmpdir, datafiles):
     key_2 = cli.get_element_key(project, element_name)
     assert key_2 != "{:?<64}".format("")
 
+    workspace_config = _yaml.load(workspace_config_path, shortname="workspaces.yml")
+    workspace_node = workspace_config.get_mapping("workspaces").get_mapping(element_name)
+    assert workspace_node.get_str("last_build", default=None) is not None
+
     # workspace keys are not recalculated
     assert key_1 == key_2
 
@@ -550,6 +555,17 @@ def test_reset_soft(cli, tmpdir, datafiles):
     # and added this one
     assert os.path.exists(os.path.join(workspace, "etc", "pony.conf"))
 
+    workspace_config = _yaml.load(workspace_config_path, shortname="workspaces.yml")
+    workspace_node = workspace_config.get_mapping("workspaces").get_mapping(element_name)
+    assert workspace_node.get_str("last_build", default=None) is None
+
+    # A new BuildStream invocation must keep the soft-reset state.
+    result = cli.run(project=project, args=["workspace", "list"])
+    result.assert_success()
+    workspace_config = _yaml.load(workspace_config_path, shortname="workspaces.yml")
+    workspace_node = workspace_config.get_mapping("workspaces").get_mapping(element_name)
+    assert workspace_node.get_str("last_build", default=None) is None
+
     assert cli.get_element_state(project, element_name) == "buildable"
     key_3 = cli.get_element_key(project, element_name)
     assert key_3 != "{:?<64}".format("")