diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 9687998a..47658720 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 xbps-0.21 (???):
 
+ * libxbps: workaround a bug (found by pancake) when updating a package
+   that is being replaced by a virtual package.
+
  * libxbps: fully remove packages with broken symlinks; previously if a
    broken symlink was there (readlink returning ELOOP), package wasn't
    removed.
diff --git a/include/xbps_api.h.in b/include/xbps_api.h.in
index 39d61b8e..56a12251 100644
--- a/include/xbps_api.h.in
+++ b/include/xbps_api.h.in
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*-
- * Copyright (c) 2008-2012 Juan Romero Pardines.
+ * Copyright (c) 2008-2013 Juan Romero Pardines.
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
  */
 #define XBPS_PKGINDEX_VERSION	"1.6"
 
-#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20130202"
+#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20130205"
 
 #ifndef XBPS_VERSION
  #define XBPS_VERSION		"UNSET"
diff --git a/lib/package_unpack.c b/lib/package_unpack.c
index 8e78e59d..37089516 100644
--- a/lib/package_unpack.c
+++ b/lib/package_unpack.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*-
- * Copyright (c) 2008-2012 Juan Romero Pardines.
+ * Copyright (c) 2008-2013 Juan Romero Pardines.
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -491,7 +491,8 @@ unpack_archive(struct xbps_handle *xhp,
 	 * 	- Package with "softreplace" keyword.
 	 */
 	old_filesd = xbps_pkgdb_get_pkg_metadata(xhp, pkgname);
-	assert(prop_object_type(old_filesd) == PROP_TYPE_DICTIONARY);
+	if (old_filesd == NULL)
+		goto out1;
 
 	obsoletes = xbps_find_pkg_obsoletes(xhp, old_filesd, filesd);
 	for (i = 0; i < prop_array_count(obsoletes); i++) {
diff --git a/lib/transaction_commit.c b/lib/transaction_commit.c
index dd7b7b67..84c079a7 100644
--- a/lib/transaction_commit.c
+++ b/lib/transaction_commit.c
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ xbps_transaction_commit(struct xbps_handle *xhp)
 			else
 				install = true;
 
-			if (update) {
+			if (update && xbps_pkgdb_get_pkg(xhp, pkgname)) {
 				/*
 				 * Update a package: execute pre-remove
 				 * action if found before unpacking.
diff --git a/lib/transaction_package_replace.c b/lib/transaction_package_replace.c
index 98f43a5a..052eff3d 100644
--- a/lib/transaction_package_replace.c
+++ b/lib/transaction_package_replace.c
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ xbps_transaction_package_replace(struct xbps_handle *xhp)
 			 * package that should be replaced is also in the
 			 * transaction and it's going to be updated.
 			 */
-			if ((reppkgd = xbps_find_pkg_in_array(unsorted, curpkgname)) ||
-			    (reppkgd = xbps_find_virtualpkg_in_array(xhp, unsorted, curpkgname))) {
+			if ((reppkgd = xbps_find_pkg_in_array(unsorted, curpkgname))) {
 				xbps_dbg_printf(xhp,
 				    "found replaced pkg "
 				    "in transaction\n");