diff --git a/js/ui/popupMenu.js b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
index 6f76a27f2..eb683ffc4 100644
--- a/js/ui/popupMenu.js
+++ b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
@@ -1524,7 +1524,7 @@ const PopupSubMenuMenuItem = new Lang.Class({
     },
 
     _setOpenState: function(open) {
-        this._setSubmenuShown(open);
+        this.setSubmenuShown(open);
     },
 
     _getOpenState: function() {