diff --git a/pylib/anki/schedv2.py b/pylib/anki/schedv2.py
index 9f14e253b..a060bb06a 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/schedv2.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/schedv2.py
@@ -1384,9 +1384,6 @@ where id = ?
     def _rolloverHour(self) -> int:
         return self.col.conf.get("rollover", 4)
 
-    # New timezone handling
-    ##########################################################################
-
     def _timing_today(self) -> SchedTimingToday:
         return self.col.backend.sched_timing_today(
             self.col.crt,
@@ -1407,6 +1404,12 @@ where id = ?
     def _creation_timezone_offset(self) -> Optional[int]:
         return self.col.conf.get("creationOffset", None)
 
+    # New timezone handling - GUI helpers
+    ##########################################################################
+
+    def new_timezone_enabled(self) -> bool:
+        return self.col.conf.get("creationOffset") is not None
+
     def set_creation_offset(self):
         """Save the UTC west offset at the time of creation into the DB.
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/preferences.py b/qt/aqt/preferences.py
index a72849c33..6f5c020c5 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/preferences.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/preferences.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
             f.new_timezone.setVisible(False)
         else:
             f.newSched.setChecked(True)
-            f.new_timezone.setChecked(self.mw.col.sched._new_timezone_enabled())
+            f.new_timezone.setChecked(self.mw.col.sched.new_timezone_enabled())
 
     def updateCollection(self):
         f = self.form
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
         qc["dayLearnFirst"] = f.dayLearnFirst.isChecked()
         self._updateDayCutoff()
         if self.mw.col.schedVer() != 1:
-            was_enabled = self.mw.col.sched._new_timezone_enabled()
+            was_enabled = self.mw.col.sched.new_timezone_enabled()
             is_enabled = f.new_timezone.isChecked()
             if was_enabled != is_enabled:
                 if is_enabled: