diff --git a/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py b/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py
index c1b80a6b7ed86fc234fdad3feb511b971517427b..4a9f955a17fc429deb6cdd10c3645700e579b4df 100644
--- a/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py
+++ b/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py
@@ -412,13 +412,13 @@ def assure_object_is_in_list(obj, containing_object, property_name,
                                        datatype=datatype)
     # TODO: case where multiple times the same property exists is not treated
 
-    if containing_object.get_property(property_name).value is None:
-        containing_object.get_property(property_name).value = []
-    elif not isinstance(containing_object.get_property(property_name).value, list):
-        containing_object.get_property(property_name).value = [
-            containing_object.get_property(property_name).value]
-        containing_object.get_property(property_name).datatype = datatype
-    current_list = containing_object.get_property(property_name).value
+    list_prop = containing_object.get_property(property_name)
+    if list_prop.value is None:
+        list_prop.value = []
+    elif not isinstance(list_prop.value, list):
+        list_prop.value = [list_prop.value]
+        list_prop.datatype = datatype
+    current_list = list_prop.value
 
     if not isinstance(obj, list):
         objects = [obj]