diff --git a/src/aiida/orm/nodes/data/array/xy.py b/src/aiida/orm/nodes/data/array/xy.py
index b8341b6c02..e13cabd0e8 100644
--- a/src/aiida/orm/nodes/data/array/xy.py
+++ b/src/aiida/orm/nodes/data/array/xy.py
@@ -186,10 +186,6 @@ def get_y(self) -> list[tuple[str, 'ndarray', str]]:
     def get_y_arraynames(self) -> list[str]:
         """Returns the user-provided names of the y-arrays."""
 
-        try:
-            y_names = self.base.attributes.get('y_names')
-            if y_names is None:
-                raise KeyError
-            return y_names
-        except (KeyError, AttributeError):
-            raise NotExistent(f'No y names been set yet!')
\ No newline at end of file
+        y_names = getattr(self.base.attributes, 'y_names', None)
+        if y_names is None:
+            raise NotExistent('No y names have been set yet!')