diff --git a/saqc/lib/tools.py b/saqc/lib/tools.py
index feb33af8e8c5e637cea386e5ec8a58b33e472a52..72c201c8f36a6afa1393edfe0082472eccd1b6cd 100644
--- a/saqc/lib/tools.py
+++ b/saqc/lib/tools.py
@@ -434,7 +434,10 @@ def getApply(in_obj, apply_obj, attr_access="__name__", attr_or="apply") -> pd.S
 
     """
     try:
-        out = getattr(in_obj, getattr(apply_obj, attr_access))()
+        access = getattr(apply_obj, attr_access)
+        if access.startswith("nan"):
+            access = access[3:]
+        out = getattr(in_obj, access)()
     except AttributeError:
         try:
             # let's try to run it somewhat optimized