diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/_fuzz_testing/utils.py b/python/cudf/cudf/_fuzz_testing/utils.py
index b5fdbbf3203..9f3c0ab6d5f 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/_fuzz_testing/utils.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/_fuzz_testing/utils.py
@@ -312,8 +312,9 @@ def sanitize(value, struct_type):
         return tuple(values_list)
 
     has_nulls_or_nullable_dtype = any(
-        col.dtype in pandas_dtypes_to_np_dtypes or col.isnull().any()
-        for col in df._data.columns
+        (col := df[colname]).dtype in pandas_dtypes_to_np_dtypes
+        or col.isnull().any()
+        for colname in df.columns
     )
     pdf = df.copy(deep=True)
     for field in arrow_table_schema: