diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/mut_.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/mut_.rs
index bc274c8917..cb8f12d6ac 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/mut_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/mut_.rs
@@ -171,3 +171,9 @@ fn mut_path_operator_assign() {
 
     assert_eq!(actual.out, "5");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn mut_records_update_properly() {
+    let actual = nu!(pipeline("mut a = {}; $a.b.c = 100; $a.b.c"));
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, "100");
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
index 24de846e3d..faa303986d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
@@ -1036,8 +1036,8 @@ impl Value {
                             }
                         }
                         if !found {
+                            cols.push(col_name.clone());
                             if cell_path.len() == 1 {
-                                cols.push(col_name.clone());
                                 vals.push(new_val);
                             } else {
                                 let mut new_col = Value::Record {