This is not a bug fix, IMO, certainly not a "beta blocker".
Isn't 5.1 frozen? Aren't we supposed to only be fixing "beta blocker" bugs here?
I don't have a problem with the change but think it should go in HEAD not 5.1 ... just in case there IS a problem we're not thinking of. It's more likely to come out in the lengthy process leading to a 5.2 release than our rapid push towards beta with 5.1...