diff --git a/pandatool/src/eggbase/eggReader.cxx b/pandatool/src/eggbase/eggReader.cxx
index 72d0007fb3..dce7b64c51 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/eggbase/eggReader.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/eggbase/eggReader.cxx
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ handle_args(ProgramBase::Args &args) {
     file_path.append_directory(filename.get_dirname());
 
     if (_force_complete) {
-      if (!file_data.load_externals()) {
+      if (!file_data.load_externals(file_path)) {
         exit(1);
       }
     }