diff --git a/docs/changes/newsfragments/5496.improved b/docs/changes/newsfragments/5496.improved
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d1d13616f5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changes/newsfragments/5496.improved
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed a bug in the Agilent 8257D where on and off would call a non existing parameter. The methods have been updated to call ``output_enabled``.
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/agilent/Agilent_E8257D.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/agilent/Agilent_E8257D.py
index fed23418634..dd8146956a4 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/agilent/Agilent_E8257D.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/agilent/Agilent_E8257D.py
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@ def __init__(
         self.connect_message()
 
     def on(self) -> None:
-        self.set("status", "on")
+        self.output_enabled.set("on")
 
     def off(self) -> None:
-        self.set("status", "off")
+        self.output_enabled.set("off")
 
     # functions to convert between rad and deg
     @staticmethod