diff --git a/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py b/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py
index e4add131a..04404c754 100644
--- a/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py
+++ b/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ class ItemSerializer(I18nAwareModelSerializer):
         if data.get('admission') and 'personalized' not in data and not self.instance:
             # Backwards compatibility
             data['personalized'] = True
-        elif not data.get('admission'):
+        elif 'admission' in data and not data['admission']:
             data['personalized'] = False
 
         if data.get('issue_giftcard'):
diff --git a/src/tests/api/test_items.py b/src/tests/api/test_items.py
index 7a5a2ba44..d3def769d 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/test_items.py
+++ b/src/tests/api/test_items.py
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ def test_item_create_with_bundle(token_client, organizer, event, item, category,
     assert resp.content.decode() == '{"bundles":["The chosen variation does not belong to this item."]}'
 
 
-@pytest.mark.django_db
+@pytest.mark.django_db(transaction=True)
 def test_item_update(token_client, organizer, event, item, category, item2, category2, taxrule2):
     resp = token_client.patch(
         '/api/v1/organizers/{}/events/{}/items/{}/'.format(organizer.slug, event.slug, item.pk),
@@ -1056,6 +1056,10 @@ def test_item_update(token_client, organizer, event, item, category, item2, cate
     assert resp.content.decode() == '{"non_field_errors":["Updating add-ons, bundles, or variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
                                     'the dedicated nested endpoint."]}'
 
+    item.personalized = True
+    item.admission = True
+    item.save()
+
     resp = token_client.patch(
         '/api/v1/organizers/{}/events/{}/items/{}/'.format(organizer.slug, event.slug, item.pk),
         {
@@ -1069,6 +1073,10 @@ def test_item_update(token_client, organizer, event, item, category, item2, cate
     with scopes_disabled():
         assert Item.objects.get(pk=item.pk).meta_data == {'day': 'Friday'}
 
+    item.refresh_from_db()
+    assert item.admission
+    assert item.personalized
+
     resp = token_client.patch(
         '/api/v1/organizers/{}/events/{}/items/{}/'.format(organizer.slug, event.slug, item.pk),
         {
@@ -1081,9 +1089,6 @@ def test_item_update(token_client, organizer, event, item, category, item2, cate
     assert resp.status_code == 400
     assert resp.content.decode() == '{"meta_data":["Item meta data property \'foo\' does not exist."]}'
 
-    item.personalized = True
-    item.admission = True
-    item.save()
     resp = token_client.patch(
         '/api/v1/organizers/{}/events/{}/items/{}/'.format(organizer.slug, event.slug, item.pk),
         {