diff --git a/ckanext/ecportal/logic.py b/ckanext/ecportal/logic.py
index 1b774c2..8f9ba08 100644
--- a/ckanext/ecportal/logic.py
+++ b/ckanext/ecportal/logic.py
@@ -589,8 +589,11 @@ def user_create(context, data_dict):
     :returns: the newly created user
     :rtype: dictionary
     '''
-    new_context = context.copy()  # Don't modify caller's context
-    new_context['schema'] = schema.default_user_schema()
+    if 'schema' not in context:
+        new_context = context.copy()  # Don't modify caller's context
+        new_context['schema'] = schema.default_update_user_schema()
+    else:
+        new_context = context
     return logic.action.create.user_create(new_context, data_dict)
 
 
@@ -609,6 +612,9 @@ def user_update(context, data_dict):
     :rtype: dictionary
 
     '''
-    new_context = context.copy()  # Don't modify caller's context
-    new_context['schema'] = schema.default_update_user_schema()
+    if 'schema' not in context:
+        new_context = context.copy()  # Don't modify caller's context
+        new_context['schema'] = schema.default_update_user_schema()
+    else:
+        new_context = context
     return logic.action.update.user_update(new_context, data_dict)
diff --git a/ckanext/ecportal/schema.py b/ckanext/ecportal/schema.py
index ec2b41b..3e9d401 100644
--- a/ckanext/ecportal/schema.py
+++ b/ckanext/ecportal/schema.py
@@ -4,29 +4,24 @@
 
 
 def default_user_schema():
+    # changes from core:
+    # - username can be uppercase
+    # - email is not required
     schema = core_schema.default_user_schema()
-
-    # username can be uppercase
     schema['name'] = [navl_validators.not_empty,
                       core_validators.user_name_validator,
                       unicode]
-
-    # email is not required
     schema['email'] = [navl_validators.default(u''),
                        unicode]
-
     return schema
 
 
 def default_update_user_schema():
     schema = default_user_schema()
-
     schema['name'] = [navl_validators.ignore_missing,
                       core_validators.user_name_validator,
                       unicode]
-
     schema['password'] = [core_validators.user_password_validator,
                           navl_validators.ignore_missing,
                           unicode]
-
     return schema