diff --git a/q2cli/core/usage.py b/q2cli/core/usage.py
index ab04e352..eec66775 100644
--- a/q2cli/core/usage.py
+++ b/q2cli/core/usage.py
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ def get_artifact_collection_member(self, name, variable, key):
         ]
         self.recorder.extend(lines)
 
-        return variable
+        return accessed_variable
 
     def import_from_format(self, name, semantic_type,
                            variable, view_type=None):