diff --git a/pysnow/request.py b/pysnow/request.py
index 1054c9b..4cf3aa7 100644
--- a/pysnow/request.py
+++ b/pysnow/request.py
@@ -135,10 +135,14 @@ def update(self, query, payload):
         if not isinstance(payload, dict):
             raise InvalidUsage("Update payload must be of type dict")
 
-        record = self.get(query=query).one()
-
-        self._url = self._get_custom_endpoint(record["sys_id"])
-        return self._get_response("PUT", data=json.dumps(payload))
+        if isinstance(query, str):
+            sys_id = query
+        else:
+            record = self.get(query=query).one()
+            sys_id = record["sys_id"]
+
+        self._url = self._get_custom_endpoint(sys_id)
+        return self._get_response("PATCH", data=json.dumps(payload))
 
     def delete(self, query):
         """Deletes a record
diff --git a/tests/test_resource.py b/tests/test_resource.py
index 6dad7ae..595633e 100644
--- a/tests/test_resource.py
+++ b/tests/test_resource.py
@@ -530,6 +530,23 @@ def test_create(self):
         self.assertEquals(type(response.one()), dict)
         self.assertEquals(response.one(), self.record_response_create)
 
+    @httpretty.activate
+    def test_update_sysid(self):
+        """:meth:`update` should return a dictionary of the updated record"""
+
+        sys_id = self.record_response_get_one[0]["sys_id"]
+
+        httpretty.register_uri(
+            httpretty.PATCH,
+            self.mock_url_builder_sys_id,
+            body=get_serialized_result(self.record_response_update),
+            status=200,
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        updated = self.resource.update(sys_id, self.record_response_update)
+        self.assertEquals(self.record_response_update["attr1"], updated["attr1"])
+
     @httpretty.activate
     def test_update(self):
         """:meth:`update` should return a dictionary of the updated record"""
@@ -543,7 +560,7 @@ def test_update(self):
         )
 
         httpretty.register_uri(
-            httpretty.PUT,
+            httpretty.PATCH,
             self.mock_url_builder_sys_id,
             body=get_serialized_result(self.record_response_update),
             status=200,
@@ -772,7 +789,7 @@ def test_response_update(self):
         )
 
         httpretty.register_uri(
-            httpretty.PUT,
+            httpretty.PATCH,
             self.mock_url_builder_sys_id,
             body=get_serialized_result(self.record_response_update),
             status=200,