diff --git a/ctapipe/tools/make_irf.py b/ctapipe/tools/make_irf.py
index b709d8eccb3..5179d2e38bd 100644
--- a/ctapipe/tools/make_irf.py
+++ b/ctapipe/tools/make_irf.py
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def _make_signal_irf_hdus(self, hdus):
         return hdus
 
     def _make_background_hdu(self):
-        sel = self.background_events["selected_gh"]
+        sel = self.background_events["selected"]
         self.log.debug("%d background events selected" % sel.sum())
         self.log.debug("%f obs time" % self.obs_time)