diff --git a/bin/compose b/bin/compose
index 674cb13..5e95179 100755
--- a/bin/compose
+++ b/bin/compose
@@ -1149,7 +1149,7 @@ _run_service_action_relation() {
             export METADATA_CONFIG=$(cat "$CHARM_STORE/$charm/metadata.yml")
             export SERVICE_NAME=$service
             export RELATION_TARGET_CHARM="$target_charm"
-            export RELATION_CHARM="$charm"
+            export RELATION_BASE_CHARM="$charm"
             export ACTION_NAME=$action
             export CONTAINER_NAME=$(get_top_master_charm_for_service "$service")
             export DOCKER_BASE_IMAGE=$(service_base_docker_image "$CONTAINER_NAME")