diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product/Type/Configurable/Attribute/Collection.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product/Type/Configurable/Attribute/Collection.php
index e446d7f1205..cdd021c708d 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product/Type/Configurable/Attribute/Collection.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Product/Type/Configurable/Attribute/Collection.php
@@ -230,10 +230,10 @@ protected function _loadPrices()
             $sortOrder = 1;
             foreach ($this->_items as $item) {
                 $productAttribute = $item->getProductAttribute();
-                $productAttributeCode = $productAttribute->getAttributeCode();
                 if (!($productAttribute instanceof Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Attribute_Abstract)) {
                     continue;
                 }
+                $productAttributeCode = $productAttribute->getAttributeCode();
                 $options = $productAttribute->getFrontend()->getSelectOptions();
 
                 $optionsByValue = [];