diff --git a/src/ngio/core/label_handler.py b/src/ngio/core/label_handler.py
index 22e1031..f96a8d8 100644
--- a/src/ngio/core/label_handler.py
+++ b/src/ngio/core/label_handler.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def __init__(
             strict=strict,
             meta_mode="label",
             cache=cache,
-            label_group=label_group,
+            _label_group=label_group,
         )
 
     @property