diff --git a/lib/view_model/active_record.rb b/lib/view_model/active_record.rb
index 2657f827..4f9e47d0 100644
--- a/lib/view_model/active_record.rb
+++ b/lib/view_model/active_record.rb
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def context_for_child(member_name, context:)
 
     # associations to roots start a new tree
     member_data = self.class._members[member_name.to_s]
-    if member_data.is_a?(AssociationData) && member_data.referenced?
+    if member_data.association? && member_data.referenced?
       return context.for_references
     end