diff --git a/cogl/cogl-vertex-attribute.c b/cogl/cogl-vertex-attribute.c
index fe98e304a..b1652bda1 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl-vertex-attribute.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl-vertex-attribute.c
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ validate_cogl_attribute (const char *name,
 	}
       *name_id = COGL_VERTEX_ATTRIBUTE_NAME_ID_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY;
     }
-  else if (strcmp (name, "normal") == 0)
+  else if (strcmp (name, "normal_in") == 0)
     {
       if (G_UNLIKELY (n_components != 3))
         {