diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java
index 044a1b1e425..c95bdba2afc 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java
@@ -26,13 +26,22 @@ import org.eclipse.debug.core.model.IBreakpoint;
 public interface ICBreakpoint extends IBreakpoint {
 
 	/**
-	 * Breakpoint attribute that we use merely as a way to force the marker to
-	 * refresh. When a CDT internal, but not persisted, state of the breakpoint
-	 * changes in a way that calls for the marker to refresh, we simply store a
-	 * timestamp (Long.toString(Date.getTime())) into this setting. The platform
-	 * responds to all marker attrib changes with a marker refresh.
+	 * Breakpoint attribute storing the number of debug targets a breakpoint is
+	 * installed in (value
+	 * <code>"org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.installCount"</code>). This
+	 * attribute is an <code>int</code>.
+	 * 
+	 * Note: this attribute is used only for notifying listeners
+	 * (IBreakpointListener) of a change in the install count. The attribute is
+	 * not used by the CDT breakpoint object to manage the install count, since
+	 * it is a transient property of a breakpoint, and marker attributes are
+	 * persisted. In other words, it's conceivable that upon breakpoint manager
+	 * initialization, a breakpoint is reconstructed with this attribute being
+	 * >0. That doesn't mean the breakpoint is installed (at workbench launch
+	 * time, there are no installed breakpoints). At that time, the attribute
+	 * means absolutely nothing.
 	 */
-	public static final String FORCE_UPDATE = "org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.forceupdate"; //$NON-NLS-1$	
+	public static final String INSTALL_COUNT = "org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.installCount"; //$NON-NLS-1$	
 
 	/**
 	 * Breakpoint attribute storing the conditional expression associated with
diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java
index 663dce41f3b..eda3edec5ea 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ package org.eclipse.cdt.debug.internal.core.breakpoints;
 
 import java.text.MessageFormat;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -50,7 +49,9 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 	private Map fExtensions = new HashMap(1);
 	
 	/**
-	 * The number of debug targets the breakpoint is installed in.  
+	 * The number of debug targets the breakpoint is installed in. We don't use
+	 * the INSTALL_COUNT attribute to manage this property (see bugzilla 218194)
+	 * 
 	 */
 	private int fInstallCount = 0;	
 	
@@ -227,11 +228,9 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 	public synchronized int incrementInstallCount() throws CoreException {
 		++fInstallCount;
 		
-		// handle the crossing into the installed state; we decorate 
-		// an installed marker with a blue checkmark
-		if (fInstallCount == 1) {
-			setAttribute(FORCE_UPDATE, Long.toString((new Date()).getTime()));	// force a refresh of the marker through a dummy attribute
-		}
+		// cause the marker to update; will ultimately result in a blue checkmark
+		// when install count > 0
+		setAttribute(INSTALL_COUNT, fInstallCount);
 		
 		return fInstallCount;
 	}
@@ -250,11 +249,9 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 	public synchronized int decrementInstallCount() throws CoreException {
 		fInstallCount--;
 		
-		// handle the crossing into the uninstalled state; we decorate 
-		// an installed marker with a blue checkmark
-		if (fInstallCount == 0) {
-			setAttribute(FORCE_UPDATE, Long.toString((new Date()).getTime()));	// force a refresh of the marker through a dummy attribute
-		}
+		// cause the marker to update; will ultimately remove blue checkmark
+		// when install count == 0
+		setAttribute(INSTALL_COUNT, fInstallCount);
 		
 		return fInstallCount;
 	}
@@ -263,10 +260,9 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.model.ICBreakpoint#resetInstallCount()
 	 */
 	public synchronized void resetInstallCount() throws CoreException {
-		int previous = fInstallCount;
-		fInstallCount = 0;
-		if (previous != 0) {
-			setAttribute(FORCE_UPDATE, Long.toString((new Date()).getTime()));	// force a refresh of the marker through a dummy attribute
+		if (fInstallCount != 0) {
+			fInstallCount = 0;
+			setAttribute(INSTALL_COUNT, fInstallCount);
 		}
 	}