diff --git a/ckan/controllers/group.py b/ckan/controllers/group.py
index dd219866a9b..c9f851c3408 100644
--- a/ckan/controllers/group.py
+++ b/ckan/controllers/group.py
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ def _save_edit(self, id, context):
                 tuplize_dict(parse_params(request.params))))
             context['message'] = data_dict.get('log_message', '')
             data_dict['id'] = id
+            context['allow_partial_update'] = True
             group = get_action('group_update')(context, data_dict)
 
             if id != group['name']:
diff --git a/ckan/lib/dictization/model_save.py b/ckan/lib/dictization/model_save.py
index a3bf73ab341..547d15ac3ac 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/dictization/model_save.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/dictization/model_save.py
@@ -382,21 +382,22 @@ def group_dict_save(group_dict, context):
 
     context['group'] = group
 
-    pkgs_edited = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'packages')
-    group_users_changed = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'users')
-    group_groups_changed = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'groups')
-    group_tags_changed = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'tags')
-    log.debug('Group save membership changes - Packages: %r  Users: %r  '
-              'Groups: %r  Tags: %r', pkgs_edited, group_users_changed,
-              group_groups_changed, group_tags_changed)
-
-    # We will get a list of packages that we have either added or
-    # removed from the group, and trigger a re-index.
-    package_ids = pkgs_edited['removed']
-    package_ids.extend( pkgs_edited['added'] )
-    if package_ids:
-        session.commit()
-        map( rebuild, package_ids )
+    if group_dict.get('packages', None) or not allow_partial_update:
+        pkgs_edited = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'packages')
+        group_users_changed = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'users')
+        group_groups_changed = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'groups')
+        group_tags_changed = group_member_save(context, group_dict, 'tags')
+        log.debug('Group save membership changes - Packages: %r  Users: %r  '
+                'Groups: %r  Tags: %r', pkgs_edited, group_users_changed,
+                group_groups_changed, group_tags_changed)
+
+        # We will get a list of packages that we have either added or
+        # removed from the group, and trigger a re-index.
+        package_ids = pkgs_edited['removed']
+        package_ids.extend( pkgs_edited['added'] )
+        if package_ids:
+            session.commit()
+            map( rebuild, package_ids )
 
     extras = group_extras_save(group_dict.get("extras", {}), context)
     if extras or not allow_partial_update: