diff --git a/src/meshmodifiers/ElementFileSubdomain.C b/src/meshmodifiers/ElementFileSubdomain.C
index b5e45d2b..9414500c 100644
--- a/src/meshmodifiers/ElementFileSubdomain.C
+++ b/src/meshmodifiers/ElementFileSubdomain.C
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ ElementFileSubdomain::modify()
     // >("element_ids");
     for (dof_id_type i = 0; i < elemids.size(); ++i)
     {
-      Elem * elem = mesh.query_elem(elemids[i]);
+      Elem * elem = mesh.query_elem_ptr(elemids[i]);
       if (!elem)
         mooseError("invalid element ID is in element_ids");
       else