diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_base.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_base.py
index 6ee22958f1..88ffa33927 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_base.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_base.py
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ class CapaMixin(CapaFields):
             event_info['failure'] = 'closed'
             self.runtime.track_function('problem_check_fail', event_info)
             if dog_stats_api:
-                dog_stats_api.increment(metric_name('checks'), [u'result:failed', u'failure:closed'])
+                dog_stats_api.increment(metric_name('checks'), tags=[u'result:failed', u'failure:closed'])
             raise NotFoundError(_("Problem is closed."))
 
         # Problem submitted. Student should reset before checking again
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ class CapaMixin(CapaFields):
             event_info['failure'] = 'unreset'
             self.runtime.track_function('problem_check_fail', event_info)
             if dog_stats_api:
-                dog_stats_api.increment(metric_name('checks'), [u'result:failed', u'failure:unreset'])
+                dog_stats_api.increment(metric_name('checks'), tags=[u'result:failed', u'failure:unreset'])
             raise NotFoundError(_("Problem must be reset before it can be checked again."))
 
         # Problem queued. Students must wait a specified waittime before they are allowed to submit
@@ -962,7 +962,7 @@ class CapaMixin(CapaFields):
         self.runtime.track_function('problem_check', event_info)
 
         if dog_stats_api:
-            dog_stats_api.increment(metric_name('checks'), [u'result:success'])
+            dog_stats_api.increment(metric_name('checks'), tags=[u'result:success'])
             dog_stats_api.histogram(
                 metric_name('correct_pct'),
                 float(published_grade['grade']) / published_grade['max_grade'],