diff --git a/mod/workshop/lib.php b/mod/workshop/lib.php
index 347464ccbb4..748aaf2f258 100644
--- a/mod/workshop/lib.php
+++ b/mod/workshop/lib.php
@@ -1441,8 +1441,9 @@ function workshop_calendar_update(stdClass $workshop, $cmid) {
             // should not be set but just in case
             unset($event->id);
         }
-        // calendar_event::create will reuse a db record if the id field is set
-        calendar_event::create($event);
+        // update() will reuse a db record if the id field is set
+        $eventobj = new calendar_event($event);
+        $eventobj->update($event, false);
     }
 
     if ($workshop->submissionend) {
@@ -1455,8 +1456,9 @@ function workshop_calendar_update(stdClass $workshop, $cmid) {
             // should not be set but just in case
             unset($event->id);
         }
-        // calendar_event::create will reuse a db record if the id field is set
-        calendar_event::create($event);
+        // update() will reuse a db record if the id field is set
+        $eventobj = new calendar_event($event);
+        $eventobj->update($event, false);
     }
 
     if ($workshop->assessmentstart) {
@@ -1469,8 +1471,9 @@ function workshop_calendar_update(stdClass $workshop, $cmid) {
             // should not be set but just in case
             unset($event->id);
         }
-        // calendar_event::create will reuse a db record if the id field is set
-        calendar_event::create($event);
+        // update() will reuse a db record if the id field is set
+        $eventobj = new calendar_event($event);
+        $eventobj->update($event, false);
     }
 
     if ($workshop->assessmentend) {
@@ -1483,8 +1486,9 @@ function workshop_calendar_update(stdClass $workshop, $cmid) {
             // should not be set but just in case
             unset($event->id);
         }
-        // calendar_event::create will reuse a db record if the id field is set
-        calendar_event::create($event);
+        // update() will reuse a db record if the id field is set
+        $eventobj = new calendar_event($event);
+        $eventobj->update($event, false);
     }
 
     // delete any leftover events