diff --git a/src/library/constructions/projection.cpp b/src/library/constructions/projection.cpp
index 0e3cf7b5c9..dd5f6ed021 100644
--- a/src/library/constructions/projection.cpp
+++ b/src/library/constructions/projection.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ environment mk_projections(environment const & env, name const & n, buffer<name>
     }
     expr C_A                     = mk_app(mk_constant(n, lvls), params);
     binder_info c_bi             = inst_implicit ? mk_inst_implicit_binder_info() : mk_binder_info();
-    expr c                       = lctx.mk_local_decl(ngen, name("c"), C_A, c_bi);
+    expr c                       = lctx.mk_local_decl(ngen, name("self"), C_A, c_bi);
     buffer<expr> cnstr_type_args; // arguments that are not parameters
     expr it = cnstr_type;
     while (is_pi(it)) {