diff --git a/src/runtime/builtin_modules/builtins.cpp b/src/runtime/builtin_modules/builtins.cpp
index 1834ca1f8..4f84eafa8 100644
--- a/src/runtime/builtin_modules/builtins.cpp
+++ b/src/runtime/builtin_modules/builtins.cpp
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ Box* getattrFunc(Box* obj, Box* _str, Box* default_value) {
 
     Box* rtn = NULL;
     try {
-        rtn = getattr(obj, str->data());
+        rtn = getattrInternal(obj, str->data(), NULL);
     } catch (ExcInfo e) {
         if (!e.matches(AttributeError))
             throw e;