diff --git a/tvb_library/tvb/simulator/models/base.py b/tvb_library/tvb/simulator/models/base.py
index a0ad7b6e1f..11a8356677 100644
--- a/tvb_library/tvb/simulator/models/base.py
+++ b/tvb_library/tvb/simulator/models/base.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def nintvar(self):
     @property
     def nnonintvar(self):
         """ The number of non integrated state variables in this model. """
-        return self._nvar - self._nintvar
+        return self.nvar - self.nintvar
 
     @property
     def has_nonint_vars(self):