diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
index f0cb646a0..97e8bfeb5 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ font, keeping only the deltas associated with the wdth axis:
 | >>> from fontTools import ttLib
 | >>> from fontTools.varLib import instancer
 | >>> varfont = ttLib.TTFont("path/to/MyVariableFont.ttf")
-| >>> [a.axisTag for a in partial["fvar"].axes]  # the varfont's current axes
+| >>> [a.axisTag for a in varfont["fvar"].axes]  # the varfont's current axes
 | ['wght', 'wdth']
 | >>> partial = instancer.instantiateVariableFont(varfont, {"wght": 300})
 | >>> [a.axisTag for a in partial["fvar"].axes]  # axes left after pinning 'wght'