diff --git a/lib/dmllib.php b/lib/dmllib.php
index 552a0d09cd5..c35190a7c75 100644
--- a/lib/dmllib.php
+++ b/lib/dmllib.php
@@ -1498,9 +1498,11 @@ function update_record($table, $dataobject) {
 
     global $db, $CFG;
 
-    if (! isset($dataobject->id) ) {
+    // integer value in id propery required
+    if (empty($dataobject->id)) {
         return false;
     }
+    $dataobject->id = (int)$dataobject->id;
 
 /// Check we are handling a proper $dataobject
     if (is_array($dataobject)) {