diff --git a/src/swigtest.py b/src/swigtest.py
index 01f89821..4ccd56b2 100644
--- a/src/swigtest.py
+++ b/src/swigtest.py
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ def message_type(msglvl: int):
     if msglvl > len(tnames):
         return 'unknown msglvl'
     else:
-        return tnames(msglvl)
+        return tnames[msglvl]
 
 # rough equivalent of avrdude_message2()
 # first argument is either "stdout" or "stderr"