diff --git a/src/vfb_connect/schema/vfb_term.py b/src/vfb_connect/schema/vfb_term.py
index 2cf1f770..8ac1959a 100644
--- a/src/vfb_connect/schema/vfb_term.py
+++ b/src/vfb_connect/schema/vfb_term.py
@@ -1569,6 +1569,7 @@ def __init__(self, id=None, term: Optional[Term] = None, related_terms: Optional
         from vfb_connect import vfb
         self.vfb = vfb
         self.debug = verbose
+        self._return_type = self.vfb._return_type if hasattr(self.vfb, '_return_type') else "full"
         if id is not None:
             if isinstance(id, list):
                 id = id[0]
@@ -1677,7 +1678,6 @@ def __init__(self, id=None, term: Optional[Term] = None, related_terms: Optional
             self._instances = None
             self._instances_ids = None
             self._instances_names = None
-            self._return_type = self.vfb._return_type # Default to global version but can be set to id, name (list) or full (VFBTerms)
             self._skeleton = None
             self._mesh = None
             self._volume = None