diff --git a/lib/UserBackend.php b/lib/UserBackend.php
index 6dd1a36ee..7d166652b 100644
--- a/lib/UserBackend.php
+++ b/lib/UserBackend.php
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ public function updateAttributes($uid,
 		}
 
 		if ($user !== null) {
-			$currentEmail = (string)$user->getEMailAddress();
+			$currentEmail = (string)(method_exists($user, 'getSystemEMailAddress') ? $user->getSystemEMailAddress() : $user->getEMailAddress());
 			if ($newEmail !== null
 				&& $currentEmail !== $newEmail) {
 				$user->setEMailAddress($newEmail);