diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/update.py b/ckan/logic/action/update.py
index 9a1ca8955f7..c466d71e5ab 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/update.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/update.py
@@ -179,7 +179,12 @@ def package_update(context, data_dict):
         schema = package_plugin.form_to_db_schema()
 
     if 'api_version' not in context:
-        package_plugin.check_data_dict(data_dict, schema)
+        # old plugins do not support passing the schema so we need
+        # to ensure they still work
+        try:
+            package_plugin.check_data_dict(data_dict, schema)
+        except TypeError:
+            package_plugin.check_data_dict(data_dict)
 
     data, errors = validate(data_dict, schema, context)