diff --git a/awx/settings/defaults.py b/awx/settings/defaults.py
index b283387350..83f3e2d90a 100644
--- a/awx/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/awx/settings/defaults.py
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ VMWARE_ENABLED_VAR = 'guest.gueststate'
 VMWARE_ENABLED_VALUE = 'running'
 
 # Inventory variable name containing the unique instance ID.
-VMWARE_INSTANCE_ID_VAR = 'vmware_uuid'
+VMWARE_INSTANCE_ID_VAR = 'config.uuid'
 
 # Filter for allowed group and host names when importing inventory
 # from VMware.