diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2ec5e39b8b..d6927f20bd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 ## Bug fixes
 
+- Fixed a bug that occured in `check_ys_are_not_too_large` when trying to reference `y-slice` where the referenced variable was not a `pybamm.StateVector` ([#3313](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/3313)
 - Fixed a bug with `_Heaviside._evaluate_for_shape` which meant some expressions involving heaviside function and subtractions did not work ([#3306](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/3306))
 - The `OneDimensionalX` thermal model has been updated to account for edge/tab cooling and account for the current collector volumetric heat capacity. It now gives the correct behaviour compared with a lumped model with the correct total heat transfer coefficient and surface area for cooling. ([#3042](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/3042))
 - Fixed a bug where the "basic" lithium-ion models gave incorrect results when using nonlinear particle diffusivity ([#3207](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/3207))
diff --git a/pybamm/solvers/solution.py b/pybamm/solvers/solution.py
index 411341f887..65c3e0b5a7 100644
--- a/pybamm/solvers/solution.py
+++ b/pybamm/solvers/solution.py
@@ -308,7 +308,20 @@ def check_ys_are_not_too_large(self):
         y = y[:, -1]
         if np.any(y > pybamm.settings.max_y_value):
             for var in [*model.rhs.keys(), *model.algebraic.keys()]:
-                y_var = y[model.variables[var.name].y_slices[0]]
+                var = model.variables[var.name]
+                # find the statevector corresponding to this variable
+                statevector = None
+                for node in var.pre_order():
+                    if isinstance(node, pybamm.StateVector):
+                        statevector = node
+
+                # there will always be a statevector, but just in case
+                if statevector is None:  # pragma: no cover
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        "Cannot find statevector corresponding to variable {}"
+                        .format(var.name)
+                    )
+                y_var = y[statevector.y_slices[0]]
                 if np.any(y_var > pybamm.settings.max_y_value):
                     pybamm.logger.error(
                         f"Solution for '{var}' exceeds the maximum allowed value "