diff --git a/cme/protocols/ftp/database.py b/cme/protocols/ftp/database.py
index abd8cf3c..61cae33f 100644
--- a/cme/protocols/ftp/database.py
+++ b/cme/protocols/ftp/database.py
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ class database:
         session_factory = sessionmaker(bind=self.db_engine, expire_on_commit=True)
 
         Session = scoped_session(session_factory)
-        # this is still named "conn" when it is the session object; TODO: rename
-        self.conn = Session()
+        self.sess = Session()
 
     @staticmethod
     def db_schema(db_conn):