diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/python/inspiral.py b/gstlal-inspiral/python/inspiral.py
index 811d2e5bf96eeb4814abc1104d20f640a731bff9..efb006740bae7958e675aa474f596c4e11cebddf 100644
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/python/inspiral.py
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/python/inspiral.py
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ class Data(object):
 
 	def __do_gracedb_alerts(self, retries = 5, retry_delay = 5.):
 		# sanity check
-		if self.farpfar is None:
+		if self.fapfar is None:
 			raise ValueError("gracedb alerts cannot be enabled without fap/far data")
 
 		# no-op short circuit