diff --git a/changelog.d/7511.bugfix b/changelog.d/7511.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cf8bc69c6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/7511.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix a long-standing bug that broke the update remote profile background process.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/profile.py b/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/profile.py
index 2b52cf9c1a..bfc9369f0b 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/profile.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class ProfileStore(ProfileWorkerStore):
         return self.db.simple_update(
             table="remote_profile_cache",
             keyvalues={"user_id": user_id},
-            values={
+            updatevalues={
                 "displayname": displayname,
                 "avatar_url": avatar_url,
                 "last_check": self._clock.time_msec(),