diff --git a/app/main/views/user_profile.py b/app/main/views/user_profile.py
index cc71fc758..7b6fbe24d 100644
--- a/app/main/views/user_profile.py
+++ b/app/main/views/user_profile.py
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ def user_profile_name():
     form = ChangeNameForm(new_name=current_user.name)
 
     if form.validate_on_submit():
-        current_user.name = form.new_name.data
-        user_api_client.update_user(current_user)
+        user_api_client.update_user(current_user.id,
+                                    name=form.new_name.data)
         return redirect(url_for('.user_profile'))
 
     return render_template(
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ def user_profile_email_authenticate():
 @main.route("/user-profile/email/confirm/<token>", methods=['GET'])
 @login_required
 def user_profile_email_confirm(token):
-
     token_data = check_token(token,
                              current_app.config['SECRET_KEY'],
                              current_app.config['DANGEROUS_SALT'],
@@ -115,9 +114,8 @@ def user_profile_email_confirm(token):
     token_data = json.loads(token_data)
     user_id = token_data['user_id']
     new_email = token_data['email']
-    user = user_api_client.get_user(user_id)
-    user.email_address = new_email
-    user_api_client.update_user(user)
+    user_api_client.update_user(user_id,
+                                email_address=new_email)
     session.pop(NEW_EMAIL, None)
 
     return redirect(url_for('.user_profile'))
@@ -179,10 +177,11 @@ def user_profile_mobile_number_confirm():
     form = ConfirmMobileNumberForm(_check_code)
 
     if form.validate_on_submit():
-        current_user.mobile_number = session[NEW_MOBILE]
+        mobile_number = session[NEW_MOBILE]
         del session[NEW_MOBILE]
         del session[NEW_MOBILE_PASSWORD_CONFIRMED]
-        user_api_client.update_user(current_user)
+        user_api_client.update_user(current_user.id,
+                                    mobile_number=mobile_number)
         return redirect(url_for('.user_profile'))
 
     return render_template(
@@ -202,8 +201,8 @@ def user_profile_password():
     form = ChangePasswordForm(_check_password)
 
     if form.validate_on_submit():
-        current_user.set_password(form.new_password.data)
-        user_api_client.update_user(current_user)
+        user_api_client.update_user(current_user.id,
+                                    password=form.new_password.data)
         return redirect(url_for('.user_profile'))
 
     return render_template(
diff --git a/app/notify_client/user_api_client.py b/app/notify_client/user_api_client.py
index d3c077333..1e5468505 100644
--- a/app/notify_client/user_api_client.py
+++ b/app/notify_client/user_api_client.py
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ class UserApiClient(BaseAPIClient):
             users.append(User(user, max_failed_login_count=self.max_failed_login_count))
         return users
 
-    def update_user(self, user):
-        data = user.serialize()
-        url = "/user/{}".format(user.id)
+    def update_user(self, user_id, **kwargs):
+        data = dict(**kwargs)
+        url = "/user/{}".format(user_id)
         user_data = self.put(url, data=data)
         return User(user_data['data'], max_failed_login_count=self.max_failed_login_count)