diff --git a/features/language-plugin.feature b/features/language-plugin.feature
index b738af15..2cb03376 100644
--- a/features/language-plugin.feature
+++ b/features/language-plugin.feature
@@ -592,3 +592,35 @@ Feature: Manage plugin translation files for a WordPress install
     # If the fix is working, installed languages should be detected via text domain
     When I run `wp language plugin is-installed test-plugin de_DE`
     Then the return code should be 0
+
+  @require-wp-4.0
+  Scenario: Update a translation that the translations API does not list
+    Given a WP install
+    And an empty cache
+
+    When I run `wp plugin install akismet --version=3.2 --force`
+    Then STDERR should be empty
+
+    When I run `wp language plugin install akismet de_DE`
+    Then STDERR should be empty
+
+    When I run `wp plugin install akismet --version=4.0 --force`
+    Then STDERR should be empty
+
+    # The update check still offers the de_DE language pack, but the translations
+    # API no longer reports de_DE for the installed version, so there is no
+    # english_name to fall back on.
+    And that HTTP requests to api.wordpress.org/translations/plugins/1.0/ will respond with:
+      """
+      HTTP/1.1 200
+      Content-Type: application/json
+
+      {"translations":[]}
+      """
+
+    When I run `wp language plugin update akismet`
+    Then STDOUT should contain:
+      """
+      Updating 'de_DE' translation for Akismet
+      """
+    And STDERR should be empty
diff --git a/src/WP_CLI/CommandWithTranslation.php b/src/WP_CLI/CommandWithTranslation.php
index b0efeccb..46d40f24 100644
--- a/src/WP_CLI/CommandWithTranslation.php
+++ b/src/WP_CLI/CommandWithTranslation.php
@@ -106,13 +106,12 @@ public function update( $args, $assoc_args ) {
 				$translation = wp_list_filter( $all_languages, array( 'language' => $update->language ) );
 				$translation = (object) reset( $translation );
 
-				$update->Type    = ucfirst( $update->type );
-				$update->Name    = $name;
-				$update->Version = $update->version;
-
-				if ( isset( $translation->english_name ) ) {
-					$update->Language = $translation->english_name;
-				}
+				$update->Type     = ucfirst( $update->type );
+				$update->Name     = $name;
+				$update->Version  = $update->version;
+				$update->Language = isset( $translation->english_name )
+					? $translation->english_name
+					: $update->language;
 
 				if ( ! isset( $updates_per_type[ $update->type ] ) ) {
 					$updates_per_type[ $update->type ] = array();