diff --git a/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py b/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
index 2732ab06f29..d641c191f6f 100644
--- a/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
+++ b/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def getLineNumber(self):
         parser = self._ref()
         if parser is None or parser._parser is None:
             return 1
-        return self._parser.ErrorLineNumber
+        return parser._parser.ErrorLineNumber
 
     def getPublicId(self):
         parser = self._ref()