diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/FemToolsZ88.py b/src/Mod/Fem/FemToolsZ88.py
index 0d24c92c6..dc00472ce 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/FemToolsZ88.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/FemToolsZ88.py
@@ -110,8 +110,7 @@ class FemToolsZ88(FemTools.FemTools):
                 self.z88_binary = z88_path
         else:
             if not z88_binary:
-                self.fem_prefs = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem/Z88")
-                z88_binary = self.fem_prefs.GetString("z88BinaryPath", "")
+                z88_binary = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem/Z88").GetString("z88BinaryPath", "")
             if not z88_binary:
                 if system() == "Linux":
                     z88_binary = "z88r"