diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb
index e10e6b4aa82da..899d0379e5d38 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def full_table_name_prefix #:nodoc:
       # The name of the column containing the object's class when Single Table Inheritance is used
       def inheritance_column
         if self == Base
-          'type'
+          @inheritance_column || 'type'
         else
           (@inheritance_column ||= nil) || superclass.inheritance_column
         end