diff --git a/example/gluon/sn_gan/model.py b/example/gluon/sn_gan/model.py
index 6040adb4eeac..cfd7f93e8dae 100644
--- a/example/gluon/sn_gan/model.py
+++ b/example/gluon/sn_gan/model.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 import mxnet as mx
 from mxnet import nd
-from mxnet import gluon
+from mxnet import gluon, autograd
 from mxnet.gluon import Block
 
 
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ def _spectral_norm(self):
         if sigma == 0.:
             sigma = EPSILON
 
-        self.params.setattr('u', _u)
+        with autograd.pause():
+            self.u.set_data(_u)
 
         return w / sigma