diff --git a/src/commands/runtime/api/create.js b/src/commands/runtime/api/create.js
index 1f52b4f4..ba1e880a 100644
--- a/src/commands/runtime/api/create.js
+++ b/src/commands/runtime/api/create.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ApiCreate extends DeployServiceCommand {
           operation: args.apiVerb,
           action: args.action,
           responsetype: flags['response-type'], // has a default
-          name: flags.apiname
+          name: flags.apiname || args.basePath
         }
       }