diff --git a/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py b/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py
index b29c0f34e2..56a923debc 100644
--- a/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py
+++ b/src/pretix/api/serializers/item.py
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ class ItemSerializer(I18nAwareModelSerializer):
 
     def validate(self, data):
         data = super().validate(data)
+        if self.instance and ('addons' in data or 'variations' in data):
+            raise ValidationError(_('Updating add-ons or variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use the '
+                                    'dedicated nested endpoint.'))
 
         Item.clean_per_order(data.get('min_per_order'), data.get('max_per_order'))
         Item.clean_available(data.get('available_from'), data.get('available_until'))
@@ -101,17 +104,8 @@ class ItemSerializer(I18nAwareModelSerializer):
         Item.clean_tax_rule(value, self.context['event'])
         return value
 
-    def validate_variations(self, value):
-        if self.instance is not None:
-            raise ValidationError(_('Updating variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use the dedicated'
-                                    ' nested endpoint.'))
-        return value
-
     def validate_addons(self, value):
-        if self.instance is not None:
-            raise ValidationError(_('Updating add-ons via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use the dedicated'
-                                    ' nested endpoint.'))
-        else:
+        if not self.instance:
             for addon_data in value:
                 ItemAddOn.clean_categories(self.context['event'], None, self.instance, addon_data['addon_category'])
                 ItemAddOn.clean_min_count(addon_data['min_count'])
diff --git a/src/tests/api/test_items.py b/src/tests/api/test_items.py
index 5d245ad60f..d0dd5ac858 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/test_items.py
+++ b/src/tests/api/test_items.py
@@ -518,6 +518,17 @@ def test_item_create_with_addon(token_client, organizer, event, item, category,
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_item_update(token_client, organizer, event, item, category, category2, taxrule2):
+    resp = token_client.patch(
+        '/api/v1/organizers/{}/events/{}/items/{}/'.format(organizer.slug, event.slug, item.pk),
+        {
+            "min_per_order": 1,
+            "max_per_order": 2
+        },
+        format='json'
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    assert Item.objects.get(pk=item.pk).max_per_order == 2
+
     resp = token_client.patch(
         '/api/v1/organizers/{}/events/{}/items/{}/'.format(organizer.slug, event.slug, item.pk),
         {
@@ -578,7 +589,7 @@ def test_item_update(token_client, organizer, event, item, category, category2,
         format='json'
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 400
-    assert resp.content.decode() == '{"addons":["Updating add-ons via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
+    assert resp.content.decode() == '{"non_field_errors":["Updating add-ons or variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
                                     'the dedicated nested endpoint."]}'
 
 
@@ -604,7 +615,7 @@ def test_item_update_with_variation(token_client, organizer, event, item):
         format='json'
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 400
-    assert resp.content.decode() == '{"variations":["Updating variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
+    assert resp.content.decode() == '{"non_field_errors":["Updating add-ons or variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
                                     'the dedicated nested endpoint."]}'
 
 
@@ -626,7 +637,7 @@ def test_item_update_with_addon(token_client, organizer, event, item, category):
         format='json'
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 400
-    assert resp.content.decode() == '{"addons":["Updating add-ons via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
+    assert resp.content.decode() == '{"non_field_errors":["Updating add-ons or variations via PATCH/PUT is not supported. Please use ' \
                                     'the dedicated nested endpoint."]}'