Index: sites/default/modules/pathauto/pathauto.module
===================================================================
--- sites/default/modules/pathauto/pathauto.module	(revision 2445)
+++ sites/default/modules/pathauto/pathauto.module	(working copy)
@@ -275,10 +275,10 @@
     // If there is a pattern, show the automatic alias checkbox.
     if ($pattern) {
       if (!isset($node->pathauto_perform_alias)) {
-        if (!empty($node->nid)) {
-          // If this is not a new node, compare it's current alias to the
-          // alias that would be genereted by pathauto. If they are the same,
-          // then keep the automatic alias enabled.
+        if (!empty($node->nid) || $node->path) {
+          // If this is not a new node or an URL alias has already been set e. g. by i18nsync
+          // compare it's current alias to the alias that would be genereted by pathauto.
+          // If they are the same, then keep the automatic alias enabled.
           _pathauto_include();
           $placeholders = pathauto_get_placeholders('node', $node);
           $pathauto_alias = pathauto_create_alias('node', 'return', $placeholders, "node/{$node->nid}", $node->nid, $node->type, $node->language);