diff --git a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index 7d49a543e7..eca8c61156 100644
--- a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -3353,8 +3353,8 @@ function wp_update_term( $term_id, $taxonomy, $args = array() ) {
 	$parent = apply_filters( 'wp_update_term_parent', $args['parent'], $term_id, $taxonomy, $parsed_args, $args );
 
 	// Check for duplicate slug
-	$id = $wpdb->get_var( $wpdb->prepare( "SELECT term_id FROM $wpdb->terms WHERE slug = %s", $slug ) );
-	if ( $id && ($id != $term_id) ) {
+	$duplicate = get_term_by( 'slug', $slug, $taxonomy );
+	if ( $duplicate && $duplicate->term_id != $term_id ) {
 		// If an empty slug was passed or the parent changed, reset the slug to something unique.
 		// Otherwise, bail.
 		if ( $empty_slug || ( $parent != $term['parent']) )