diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py
index cad94b9c71..ef0dc62c44 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py
@@ -113,7 +113,10 @@ def get_layers(ifc_file, element):
             if subelement.is_a("IfcShapeRepresentation"):
                 layers.extend(subelement.LayerAssignments or [])
             elif subelement.is_a("IfcGeometricRepresentationItem"):
-                layers.extend(subelement.LayerAssignment or [])
+                if ifc_file.schema == "IFC2X3":
+                    layers.extend(subelement.LayerAssignments or [])
+                else:
+                    layers.extend(subelement.LayerAssignment or [])
     return layers
 
 
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_element.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_element.py
index a5d91996fb..c3434930ae 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_element.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_element.py
@@ -250,6 +250,26 @@ class TestGetlayers(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
         assert subject.get_layers(self.file, element) == [layer]
 
 
+class TestGetlayers(test.bootstrap.IFC2X3):
+    def test_getting_the_layer_of_a_product_item(self):
+        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
+        layer = ifcopenshell.api.run("layer.add_layer", self.file)
+        item = self.file.createIfcExtrudedAreaSolid()
+        representation = self.file.createIfcShapeRepresentation(Items=[item])
+        element.Representation = self.file.createIfcProductDefinitionShape(Representations=[representation])
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("layer.assign_layer", self.file, item=item, layer=layer)
+        assert subject.get_layers(self.file, element) == [layer]
+
+    def test_getting_the_layer_of_a_type_product_item(self):
+        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWallType")
+        layer = ifcopenshell.api.run("layer.add_layer", self.file)
+        item = self.file.createIfcExtrudedAreaSolid()
+        representation = self.file.createIfcShapeRepresentation(Items=[item])
+        element.RepresentationMaps = [self.file.createIfcRepresentationMap(MappedRepresentation=representation)]
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("layer.assign_layer", self.file, item=item, layer=layer)
+        assert subject.get_layers(self.file, element) == [layer]
+
+
 class TestGetContainerIFC4(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
     def test_getting_the_spatial_container_of_an_element(self):
         element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")