diff --git a/src/genomic_features/ensembl/ensembldb.py b/src/genomic_features/ensembl/ensembldb.py
index ffa9dc5..82f420d 100644
--- a/src/genomic_features/ensembl/ensembldb.py
+++ b/src/genomic_features/ensembl/ensembldb.py
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ def _get_required_tables(self, tab) -> list:
     def list_columns(self, tables: str | list[str] | None = None) -> list[str]:
         """List queryable columns available in these tables."""
         if tables is None:
-            tables = self.db.list_tables()  # list of table names
+            tables = self._tables_by_degree()  # list of table names
             if "metadata" in tables:
                 tables.remove("metadata")
         elif isinstance(tables, str):