diff --git a/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/visa_communicator.py b/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/visa_communicator.py
index 98fb7ac4f..391487757 100644
--- a/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/visa_communicator.py
+++ b/instruments/abstract_instruments/comm/visa_communicator.py
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ def __init__(self, conn):
         if visa is None:
             raise ImportError("PyVISA required for accessing VISA instruments.")
 
-        version = int(visa.__version__.replace(".", ""))
+        version = int(visa.__version__.replace(".", "").ljust(3, "0"))
+        # pylint: disable=no-member
         if (version < 160 and isinstance(conn, visa.Instrument)) or \
                 (version >= 160 and isinstance(conn, visa.Resource)):
             self._conn = conn