diff --git a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/pricing_rule.py b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/pricing_rule.py
index cff7d5ba22..a2e35bc7c4 100644
--- a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/pricing_rule.py
+++ b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/pricing_rule.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2015, Frappe Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Contributors
-# MIT License. See license.txt
 
 # For license information, please see license.txt
 
@@ -9,6 +8,8 @@ import json
 import copy
 from frappe import throw, _
 from frappe.utils import flt, cint, getdate
+from erpnext.accounts.doctype.pricing_rule.utils import (get_pricing_rules,
+		get_applied_pricing_rules, get_pricing_rule_items, get_product_discount_rule)
 
 from frappe.model.document import Document
 
@@ -207,9 +208,6 @@ def get_serial_no_for_item(args):
 	return item_details
 
 def get_pricing_rule_for_item(args, price_list_rate=0, doc=None, for_validate=False):
-	from erpnext.accounts.doctype.pricing_rule.utils import (get_pricing_rules,
-		get_applied_pricing_rules, get_pricing_rule_items, get_product_discount_rule)
-
 	if isinstance(doc, string_types):
 		doc = json.loads(doc)
 
@@ -237,7 +235,7 @@ def get_pricing_rule_for_item(args, price_list_rate=0, doc=None, for_validate=Fa
 
 	update_args_for_pricing_rule(args)
 
-	pricing_rules = (get_applied_pricing_rules(args)
+	pricing_rules = (get_applied_pricing_rules(args.get('pricing_rules'))
 		if for_validate and args.get("pricing_rules") else get_pricing_rules(args, doc))
 
 	if pricing_rules:
@@ -365,8 +363,7 @@ def set_discount_amount(rate, item_details):
 			item_details.rate = rate
 
 def remove_pricing_rule_for_item(pricing_rules, item_details, item_code=None):
-	from erpnext.accounts.doctype.pricing_rule.utils import get_pricing_rule_items
-	for d in json.loads(pricing_rules):
+	for d in get_applied_pricing_rules(pricing_rules):
 		if not d or not frappe.db.exists("Pricing Rule", d): continue
 		pricing_rule = frappe.get_cached_doc('Pricing Rule', d)
 
diff --git a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/utils.py b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/utils.py
index 3fd316f75e..53b0cf7bba 100644
--- a/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/utils.py
+++ b/erpnext/accounts/doctype/pricing_rule/utils.py
@@ -447,9 +447,14 @@ def apply_pricing_rule_on_transaction(doc):
 				apply_pricing_rule_for_free_items(doc, item_details.free_item_data)
 				doc.set_missing_values()
 
-def get_applied_pricing_rules(item_row):
-	return (json.loads(item_row.get("pricing_rules"))
-		if item_row.get("pricing_rules") else [])
+def get_applied_pricing_rules(pricing_rules):
+	if pricing_rules:
+		if pricing_rules.startswith('['):
+			return json.loads(pricing_rules)
+		else:
+			return pricing_rules.split(',')
+
+	return []
 
 def get_product_discount_rule(pricing_rule, item_details, args=None, doc=None):
 	free_item = pricing_rule.free_item
diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py b/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py
index 3091193b8d..d61e44b53d 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ class AccountsController(TransactionBase):
 				apply_pricing_rule_for_free_items(self, pricing_rule_args.get('free_item_data'))
 
 		elif pricing_rule_args.get("validate_applied_rule"):
-			for pricing_rule in get_applied_pricing_rules(item):
+			for pricing_rule in get_applied_pricing_rules(item.get('pricing_rules')):
 				pricing_rule_doc = frappe.get_cached_doc("Pricing Rule", pricing_rule)
 				for field in ['discount_percentage', 'discount_amount', 'rate']:
 					if item.get(field) < pricing_rule_doc.get(field):