diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/checks.py b/django/contrib/admin/checks.py
index 609945177b..d61ce723e3 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/checks.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/checks.py
@@ -561,12 +561,12 @@ class ModelAdminChecks(BaseModelAdminChecks):
         """ Check one inline model admin. """
         inline_label = '.'.join([inline.__module__, inline.__name__])
 
-        from django.contrib.admin.options import BaseModelAdmin
+        from django.contrib.admin.options import InlineModelAdmin
 
-        if not issubclass(inline, BaseModelAdmin):
+        if not issubclass(inline, InlineModelAdmin):
             return [
                 checks.Error(
-                    "'%s' must inherit from 'BaseModelAdmin'." % inline_label,
+                    "'%s' must inherit from 'InlineModelAdmin'." % inline_label,
                     obj=obj.__class__,
                     id='admin.E104',
                 )
diff --git a/docs/ref/checks.txt b/docs/ref/checks.txt
index 82f3c19228..78d3783b59 100644
--- a/docs/ref/checks.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/checks.txt
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ with the admin site:
 * **admin.E102**: The value of ``save_on_top`` must be a boolean.
 * **admin.E103**: The value of ``inlines`` must be a list or tuple.
 * **admin.E104**: ``<InlineModelAdmin class>`` must inherit from
-  ``BaseModelAdmin``.
+  ``InlineModelAdmin``.
 * **admin.E105**: ``<InlineModelAdmin class>`` must have a ``model`` attribute.
 * **admin.E106**: The value of ``<InlineModelAdmin class>.model`` must be a
   ``Model``.
diff --git a/tests/modeladmin/tests.py b/tests/modeladmin/tests.py
index d19093334a..d375090151 100644
--- a/tests/modeladmin/tests.py
+++ b/tests/modeladmin/tests.py
@@ -1339,7 +1339,7 @@ class InlinesCheckTests(CheckTestCase):
 
         self.assertIsInvalidRegexp(
             ValidationTestModelAdmin, ValidationTestModel,
-            r"'.*\.ValidationTestInline' must inherit from 'BaseModelAdmin'\.",
+            r"'.*\.ValidationTestInline' must inherit from 'InlineModelAdmin'\.",
             'admin.E104')
 
     def test_missing_model_field(self):