diff --git a/addons/product/product.py b/addons/product/product.py
index 30ee7a9a9b7..44f6dcf81a3 100644
--- a/addons/product/product.py
+++ b/addons/product/product.py
@@ -946,12 +946,12 @@ class product_product(osv.osv):
 
     def _set_image_variant(self, cr, uid, id, name, value, args, context=None):
         image = tools.image_resize_image_big(value)
-        res = self.write(cr, uid, [id], {'image_variant': image}, context=context)
+
         product = self.browse(cr, uid, id, context=context)
-        if not product.product_tmpl_id.image:
-            product.write({'image_variant': None})
-            product.product_tmpl_id.write({'image': image})
-        return res
+        if product.product_tmpl_id.image:
+            product.image_variant = image
+        else:
+            product.product_tmpl_id.image = image
 
     def _get_price_extra(self, cr, uid, ids, name, args, context=None):
         result = dict.fromkeys(ids, False)