diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/material.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/material.cxx
index 24bc0fb590..091c7eff2f 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/material.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/material.cxx
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ void Material::
 write(std::ostream &out, int indent_level) const {
   indent(out, indent_level) << "Material " << get_name() << "\n";
   if (has_base_color()) {
-    indent(out, indent_level + 2) << "base_color = " << get_ambient() << "\n";
+    indent(out, indent_level + 2) << "base_color = " << get_base_color() << "\n";
   }
   if (has_ambient()) {
     indent(out, indent_level + 2) << "ambient = " << get_ambient() << "\n";