diff --git a/modules/user/src/main/UserRepo.scala b/modules/user/src/main/UserRepo.scala
index f5409ad0b4..fa80426d6c 100644
--- a/modules/user/src/main/UserRepo.scala
+++ b/modules/user/src/main/UserRepo.scala
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ final class UserRepo(val coll: Coll)(implicit ec: scala.concurrent.ExecutionCont
       .update(ordered = false, WriteConcern.Unacknowledged)
       .one(
         // limit to -3 <= colorIt <= 5 but set when undefined
-        $id(userId) ++ $not(if (value < 0) $doc(F.colorIt $lte -3) else F.colorIt $gte 5),
+        $id(userId) ++ $doc(F.colorIt -> $not(if (value < 0) $lte(-3) else $gte(5)))),
         $inc(F.colorIt -> value)
       )
       .unit