diff --git a/cmd/app/app.go b/cmd/app/app.go
index 74ff9ad4..fa895896 100644
--- a/cmd/app/app.go
+++ b/cmd/app/app.go
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ func parse(id string, base *check.Absolute, r io.Reader) (*hst.Config, error) {
 					Target: fhs.AbsRoot,
 					Lower: []*check.Absolute{
 						base.Append("template", "initial"),
-						base.Append("template", "upper"),
 					},
+					Upper: base.Append("template", "upper"),
 				}},
 				{FilesystemConfig: &hst.FSBind{
 					Target: home,
diff --git a/cmd/app/app_test.go b/cmd/app/app_test.go
index df17f781..7c8c9ede 100644
--- a/cmd/app/app_test.go
+++ b/cmd/app/app_test.go
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ talk com.canonical.Unity
 						Target: fhs.AbsRoot,
 						Lower: []*check.Absolute{
 							base.Append("template", "initial"),
-							base.Append("template", "upper"),
 						},
+						Upper: base.Append("template", "upper"),
 					}},
 					{FilesystemConfig: &hst.FSBind{
 						Target: hst.AbsPrivateTmp.Append("home"),