diff --git a/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py b/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py
index 541ab94..80294d9 100644
--- a/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py
+++ b/xos/synchronizer/models/models.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 
         self.set_owner()
 
-        if self.owner.access == "voltha":
+        if hasattr(self.owner.leaf_model, "access") and self.owner.leaf_model.access == "voltha":
             # if the access network is managed by voltha, validate that olt_device and olt_port actually exists
             volt_service = self.owner.provider_services[0].leaf_model # we assume RCORDService is connected only to the vOLTService