diff --git a/src/main/python/ttconv/scc/word.py b/src/main/python/ttconv/scc/word.py
index e7bc8ae8..87cdfa85 100644
--- a/src/main/python/ttconv/scc/word.py
+++ b/src/main/python/ttconv/scc/word.py
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ def is_code(self) -> bool:
 
   def get_channel(self) -> Optional[SccChannel]:
     """Returns the caption channel, if the word is an SCC code"""
-    if self.is_code():
-      if isinstance(self.code, SccPreambleAddressCode):
-        return self.code.get_channel()
-      return self.code.get_channel(self.value)
-    return None
+    if self.code is None:
+      return None
+    if isinstance(self.code, SccPreambleAddressCode):
+      return self.code.get_channel()
+    return self.code.get_channel(self.value)