diff --git a/wp-includes/wp-db.php b/wp-includes/wp-db.php
index 7a409a4c6a..366c32e57b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/wp-db.php
+++ b/wp-includes/wp-db.php
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ class wpdb {
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		if ( preg_match("/^\\s*(insert|delete|update|replace) /i",$query) ) {
+		if ( preg_match("/^\\s*(insert|delete|update|replace|alter) /i",$query) ) {
 			$this->rows_affected = mysql_affected_rows($this->dbh);
 			// Take note of the insert_id
 			if ( preg_match("/^\\s*(insert|replace) /i",$query) ) {