diff --git a/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py b/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
index d8a38e2fed779c14908559adeeaa24e656f968d2..caf11cb3e4912e0ac1c3ed87bf50e5e923a26839 100644
--- a/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
+++ b/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ class DD4hepSimulation(object):
       return level
     except ValueError:
       try:
-        return outputLevel[level.upper()]
+        return outputLevel(level.upper())
       except ValueError:
         self.errorMessages.append( "ERROR: printLevel is neither integer nor string" )
         return -1