A centrosymmetric and short O-H.O hydrogen bond was found in isomorphic crystals of potassium hydrogen trans-glutaconate monohydrate (potassium hydrogen trans-pent-2-ene-1,5-dioate, K(+).C(5)H(5)O(4)(-).H(2)O), (I), and rubidium hydrogen trans-glutaconate monohydrate (rubidium hydrogen trans-pent-2-ene-1,5-dioate, Rb(+).C(5)H(5)O(4)(-).H(2)O), (II). The O.O distance at room temperature is 2.444 (3) A in (I), and 2.417 (4) A in (II). The O.O distance for (I) showed no significant decrease at low temperatures.