diff --git a/lib/Cake/Controller/Controller.php b/lib/Cake/Controller/Controller.php
index 61d18585a..c75f5c5fe 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Controller/Controller.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Controller/Controller.php
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ class Controller extends Object {
  * @return mixed Returns the return value of the called action
  */
 	public function setAction($action) {
-		$this->request->action = $action;
+		$this->request->params['action'] = $action;
 		$this->view = $action;
 		$args = func_get_args();
 		unset($args[0]);