diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.C
index bbcd02bf93..b2b368f8ad 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.C
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ Foam::basicThermo::basicThermo
     (
         IOobject
         (
-            "thermo:alpha",
+            phasePropertyName("thermo:alpha"),
             mesh.time().timeName(),
             mesh,
             IOobject::READ_IF_PRESENT,