diff --git a/lib/galaxy/jobs/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/jobs/__init__.py
index bf0f8a422052..7d144126f821 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/jobs/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/jobs/__init__.py
@@ -1696,7 +1696,7 @@ def fail(message=job.info, exception=None):
                     else:
                         # Prior to fail we need to set job.state
                         job.set_state(final_job_state)
-                        return self.fail(f"Job {job.id}'s output dataset(s) could not be read")
+                        return fail(f"Job {job.id}'s output dataset(s) could not be read")
 
         job_context = ExpressionContext(dict(stdout=job.stdout, stderr=job.stderr))
         if extended_metadata: