diff --git a/pyscf/scf/test/test_vhf.py b/pyscf/scf/test/test_vhf.py
index 0b69af1de3..53e0e06bcb 100644
--- a/pyscf/scf/test/test_vhf.py
+++ b/pyscf/scf/test/test_vhf.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def __init__(self, mol, intor=None, prescreen='CVHFnoscreen',
         with mol.with_short_range_coulomb(omega):
             _vhf._VHFOpt.__init__(self, mol, intor, prescreen, qcondname, dmcondname)
         self.omega = omega
-        self._this.direct_scf_cutoff = numpy.log(direct_scf_tol)
+        self._this.direct_scf_tol = numpy.log(direct_scf_tol)
 
     def init_cvhf_direct(self, mol, intor=None, qcondname=None):
         nbas = mol.nbas