The taxonomic status and nomenclature of the golden lemming (Lemmus obensis chrysogaster) remained a puzzle for more than 100 years. It was considered either as an independent species Lemmuschrysogaster or as a subspecies of Lemmus trimucronatus or Lemmus sibiricus. In the most authoritative checklists, without further evidence, it was transferred to the synonym of Lemmus amurensis. However, the type material and specimens from type locality have not been revised since 1903. Here we fill this gap. The sequence of the cytochrome b gene from topotype clearly indicates that the golden lemming is a younger synonym of L. trimucronatus.