diff --git a/pyadjoint/control.py b/pyadjoint/control.py
index f8e626be..93b7eae9 100644
--- a/pyadjoint/control.py
+++ b/pyadjoint/control.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def get_derivative(self, options={}):
         return self.control._ad_convert_type(self.block_variable.adj_value, options=options)
 
     def get_hessian(self, options={}):
-        if self.block_variable.adj_value is None:
+        if self.block_variable.hessian_value is None:
             logging.warning("Hessian value is None, is the functional independent of the control variable?")
             return self.control._ad_convert_type(0., options=options)
         return self.control._ad_convert_type(self.block_variable.hessian_value, options=options)