diff --git a/src/nt/nttable.cpp b/src/nt/nttable.cpp
index 5f9ab0b..1964aca 100644
--- a/src/nt/nttable.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/nttable.cpp
@@ -245,11 +245,11 @@ StringArray const & NTTable::getColumnNames() const
 
 PVFieldPtr NTTable::getColumn(std::string const & columnName) const
 {
-    return pvNTTable->getSubField("value." + columnName);
+    return pvValue->getSubField(columnName);
 }
 
 NTTable::NTTable(PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure) :
-    pvNTTable(pvStructure)
+    pvNTTable(pvStructure), pvValue(pvNTTable->getSubField<PVStructure>("value"))
 {}
 
 
diff --git a/src/nt/nttable.h b/src/nt/nttable.h
index 683ec35..0f02cc5 100644
--- a/src/nt/nttable.h
+++ b/src/nt/nttable.h
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ public:
 private:
     NTTable(epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure);
     epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr pvNTTable;
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr pvValue;
     friend class detail::NTTableBuilder;
 };