diff -u b/core/modules/rdf/rdf.module b/core/modules/rdf/rdf.module
--- b/core/modules/rdf/rdf.module
+++ b/core/modules/rdf/rdf.module
@@ -271,17 +271,33 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * Implements hook_preprocess_HOOK() for field templates.
+ * Implements hook_preprocess_HOOK() for UID field templates.
  */
-function rdf_preprocess_field(&$variables) {
+function rdf_preprocess_field__node__uid(&$variables) {
+  _rdf_set_field_rel_attribute($variables);
+
+}
+
+/**
+ * Implements hook_preprocess_HOOK() for Entity Reference field templates.
+ */
+function rdf_preprocess_field__node__entity_reference(&$variables) {
+  _rdf_set_field_rel_attribute($variables);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Sets rel attribute for variables array if property attribute is set.
+ */
+function _rdf_set_field_rel_attribute(&$variables) {
   // Swap the regular field property attribute and use rel instead so that it
   // plays well with the RDFa markup generated for the username.
-  if (!empty($variables['attributes']['property']) && $variables['field_type'] == 'entity_reference' && $variables['field_name'] == 'uid') {
+  if (!empty($variables['attributes']['property'])) {
     $variables['attributes']['rel'] = $variables['attributes']['property'];
     unset($variables['attributes']['property']);
   }
 }
 
+
 /**
  * Implements hook_preprocess_HOOK() for node templates.
  */