diff --git a/cmd/helm/upgrade.go b/cmd/helm/upgrade.go
index 950c48c71..4d42c1d36 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/upgrade.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/upgrade.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func (u *upgradeCmd) vals() ([]byte, error) {
 			return []byte{}, err
 		}
 
-		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(bytes, base); err != nil {
+		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(bytes, &base); err != nil {
 			return []byte{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse %s: %s", u.valuesFile, err)
 		}
 	}