diff --git a/plugins/views_plugin_query_default.inc b/plugins/views_plugin_query_default.inc
index 030c5ea..2d7b65e 100644
--- a/plugins/views_plugin_query_default.inc
+++ b/plugins/views_plugin_query_default.inc
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class views_plugin_query_default extends views_plugin_query {
     }
 
     // Make sure $alias isn't already used; if it, start adding stuff.
-    $alias_base = $alias;
+    $alias_base = drupal_substr($alias, 0, 1);
     $count = 1;
     while (!empty($this->relationships[$alias])) {
       $alias = $alias_base . '_' . $count++;