diff --git a/goblin/element.py b/goblin/element.py
index 895f4136745a7cdd3d900f64894fbb0078af978e..63b382272d84c3503a14d41bdbd151cd24b9e4ef 100644
--- a/goblin/element.py
+++ b/goblin/element.py
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ class VertexPropertyDescriptor:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, name, vertex_property):
+        self._prop_name = name
         self._name = '_' + name
         self._vertex_property = vertex_property.__class__
         self._data_type = vertex_property.data_type