diff --git a/openmc/mesh.py b/openmc/mesh.py
index 5a23e83d763..c965ae3b27b 100644
--- a/openmc/mesh.py
+++ b/openmc/mesh.py
@@ -99,9 +99,7 @@ def from_hdf5(cls, group: h5py.Group):
             Instance of a MeshBase subclass
 
         """
-
-        mesh_type = 'regular' if 'type' not in group else group['type'][()].decode()
-
+        mesh_type = 'regular' if 'type' not in group.attrs else group.attrs['type'].decode()
         mesh_id = int(group.name.split('/')[-1].lstrip('mesh '))
         mesh_name = '' if not 'name' in group else group['name'][()].decode()