diff --git a/docs/examples/toymodel.py b/docs/examples/toymodel.py
index bccbeaae2dc2..2731171d07f8 100644
--- a/docs/examples/toymodel.py
+++ b/docs/examples/toymodel.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def gates_set(self, parameter, value):
 
     def gates_get(self, parameter):
         if parameter[0] == 'c':
-            return self.fmt(self.gates[int(parameter[1:])])
+            return self.fmt(self._gates[int(parameter[1:])])
         else:
             raise ValueError