diff --git a/lib/utilities/relationship-utils.js b/lib/utilities/relationship-utils.js
index b30a365..b1d9b71 100644
--- a/lib/utilities/relationship-utils.js
+++ b/lib/utilities/relationship-utils.js
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ function getInvalidIncludesError (message) {
 }
 
 function isLoopbackInclude (ctx) {
-  return ctx.args && ctx.args.filter
+  return ctx.args && ctx.args.filter && ctx.args.filter.include
 }
 
 function isJSONAPIInclude (req) {