diff --git a/pygsti/protocols/vb.py b/pygsti/protocols/vb.py
index 57eb5f09d..157c7ec7c 100644
--- a/pygsti/protocols/vb.py
+++ b/pygsti/protocols/vb.py
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ def adjusted_success_probability(hamming_distance_counts):
                 return adjSP
             
         def _get_energies(icirc, circ, dsrow, measurement, sign):
-            eng = _avg_energy(dsrow, measurement, sign)
+            eng = avg_energy(dsrow, measurement, sign)
             ret = {'energies': eng, 'total_counts': dsrow.total}
             return ret