diff --git a/riocli/apply/parse.py b/riocli/apply/parse.py
index da4879d3..787f7719 100644
--- a/riocli/apply/parse.py
+++ b/riocli/apply/parse.py
@@ -529,4 +529,4 @@ def _process_values_and_secrets(
         self.values = self._inject_rio_namespace(self.values)
 
         for s in secrets:
-            benedict(self.values).merge(self._load_file_content(s, is_secret=True)[0])
+            benedict(self.secrets).merge(self._load_file_content(s, is_secret=True)[0])