diff --git a/homeassistant/components/binary_sensor/isy994.py b/homeassistant/components/binary_sensor/isy994.py
index a5b61c9ffed..247ea0b231a 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/binary_sensor/isy994.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/binary_sensor/isy994.py
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ class ISYBinarySensorDevice(isy.ISYDevice, BinarySensorDevice):
         """
         self._negative_node = child
 
-        if not _is_val_unknown(self._negative_node):
+        # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        if not _is_val_unknown(self._negative_node.status._val):
             # If the negative node has a value, it means the negative node is
             # in use for this device. Therefore, we cannot determine the state
             # of the sensor until we receive our first ON event.