diff --git a/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py b/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py
index 0ebb6b747..df332cb78 100644
--- a/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py
+++ b/src/maggma/stores/mongolike.py
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ def update(self, docs: Union[List[Dict], Dict], key: Union[List, str, None] = No
         if not isinstance(docs, list):
             docs = [docs]
 
-        for d in (jsanitize(x, allow_bson=True) for x in docs):
+        for d in (jsanitize(x, allow_bson=True, recursive_msonable=True) for x in docs):
             # document-level validation is optional
             validates = True
             if self.validator: