diff --git a/lib/classes/dataformat/spout_base.php b/lib/classes/dataformat/spout_base.php
index 67a252d9fb6..9208e605b3f 100644
--- a/lib/classes/dataformat/spout_base.php
+++ b/lib/classes/dataformat/spout_base.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ abstract class spout_base extends \core\dataformat\base {
      */
     public function send_http_headers() {
         $this->writer = \Box\Spout\Writer\WriterFactory::create($this->spouttype);
-        if (method_exists('setTempFolder', $this->writer)) {
+        if (method_exists($this->writer, 'setTempFolder')) {
             $this->writer->setTempFolder(make_request_directory());
         }
         $filename = $this->filename . $this->get_extension();