diff --git a/bin/compose-core b/bin/compose-core
index d32dac3..bf2c4b3 100755
--- a/bin/compose-core
+++ b/bin/compose-core
@@ -4409,12 +4409,14 @@ if [ -z "$is_docker_compose_action" -a "$action" ]; then
     remainder_args=("${remainder_args[@]:1}")
     if has_service_action "$action_service" "$action" >/dev/null; then
         is_service_action=true
+        services_args=("$action_service")
         {
             read-0 action_type
             case "$action_type" in
                 "relation")
                     read-0 _ target_service _target_charm relation_name _ action_script_path
                     debug "Found action $DARKYELLOW${action_service}$NORMAL/$DARKBLUE$relation_name$NORMAL/$DARKCYAN$action$NORMAL (in $DARKYELLOW$target_service$NORMAL)"
+                    services_args+=("$target_service")
                     ;;
                 "direct")
                     read-0 _ action_script_path
@@ -4422,7 +4424,6 @@ if [ -z "$is_docker_compose_action" -a "$action" ]; then
                     ;;
             esac
         } < <(has_service_action "$action_service" "$action")
-        services_args=("$action_service")
         get_all_relations "${services_args[@]}" >/dev/null || {
             echo "  Hint: if this is unexpected, you can try to delete caches, and re-run the command." >&2
             exit 1