diff --git a/arangod/Aql/IndexNode.cpp b/arangod/Aql/IndexNode.cpp
index c31c76e2e4..9c2d9bc512 100644
--- a/arangod/Aql/IndexNode.cpp
+++ b/arangod/Aql/IndexNode.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ void IndexNode::initIndexCoversProjections() {
   }
 
   _coveringIndexAttributePositions = std::move(coveringAttributePositions);
+  _options.forceProjection = true;
 }
 
 /// @brief toVelocyPack, for IndexNode