diff --git a/music21/musicxml/m21ToXml.py b/music21/musicxml/m21ToXml.py
index 5a69577819..61f335f117 100644
--- a/music21/musicxml/m21ToXml.py
+++ b/music21/musicxml/m21ToXml.py
@@ -2564,7 +2564,9 @@ def parse(self):
                 mxMeasure = measureExporter.parse()
             except MusicXMLExportException as e:
                 e.measureNumber = str(m.number)
-                e.partName = self.stream.partName
+                if isinstance(self.stream, stream.Part):
+                    e.partName = self.stream.partName
+                # else: could be a Score without parts (flat)
                 raise e
             self.xmlRoot.append(mxMeasure)