diff --git a/lib/include.js b/lib/include.js
index e3307dbb..3afa1c02 100644
--- a/lib/include.js
+++ b/lib/include.js
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ function normalizeInclude(include) {
   } else if (isPlainObject(include)) {
     // Build an array of key/value pairs
     var newInclude = [];
-    if (typeof include.relation === 'string' && isPlainObject(include.scope)) {
+    var rel = include.rel || include.relation;
+    if (typeof rel === 'string' && isPlainObject(include.scope)) {
       var obj = {};
-      obj[include.relation] = new IncludeScope(include.scope);
+      obj[rel] = new IncludeScope(include.scope);
       newInclude.push(obj);
     } else {
       for (var key in include) {