diff --git a/pykat/components.py b/pykat/components.py
index 8aac82e60ce14f2ab2a19a7109aa05872b119765..c9e765a95cad01a4b091f2ddb8b580fef0bd5b94 100644
--- a/pykat/components.py
+++ b/pykat/components.py
@@ -278,8 +278,8 @@ class beamSplitter(AbstractMirrorComponent):
         self._requested_node_names.append(node3)
         self._requested_node_names.append(node4)
              
-        self.__alpha = AttrParam("alpha", self, SIfloat(alpha))
-    
+        self.__alpha = Param("alpha", self, SIfloat(alpha))
+        
     @property
     def alpha(self): return self.__alpha
     @alpha.setter