diff --git a/pycbc/types/config.py b/pycbc/types/config.py
index c690c8f4906..cdbf67bff95 100644
--- a/pycbc/types/config.py
+++ b/pycbc/types/config.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def __deepcopy__(self, memo):
         self.write(config_string)
         config_string.seek(0)
         new_config = self.__class__()
-        new_config.readfp(config_string)
+        new_config.read_file(config_string)
         return new_config