diff --git a/packages/jspsych/src/JsPsych.ts b/packages/jspsych/src/JsPsych.ts
index e1587739f2..b9f34911ab 100644
--- a/packages/jspsych/src/JsPsych.ts
+++ b/packages/jspsych/src/JsPsych.ts
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ export class JsPsych {
    * @param name The name of the timeline to abort. Timelines can be given names by setting the `name` parameter in the description of the timeline.
    */
   abortTimelineByName(name: string): void {
-    const timeline = this.timeline?.getTimelineByName(name);
+    const timeline = this.timeline?.getActiveTimelineByName(name);
     if (timeline) {
       timeline.abort();
     }
diff --git a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.spec.ts b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.spec.ts
index dd333c84a1..b94f595f98 100644
--- a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.spec.ts
@@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ describe("Timeline", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe("getTimelineByName()", () => {
+  describe("getActiveTimelineByName()", () => {
     it("returns the timeline with the given name", async () => {
       TestPlugin.setManualFinishTrialMode();
 
@@ -876,8 +876,10 @@ describe("Timeline", () => {
 
       timeline.run();
 
-      expect(timeline.getTimelineByName("outerTimeline")).toBe(timeline);
-      expect(timeline.getTimelineByName("innerTimeline")).toBe(timeline.children[0] as Timeline);
+      expect(timeline.getActiveTimelineByName("outerTimeline")).toBe(timeline);
+      expect(timeline.getActiveTimelineByName("innerTimeline")).toBe(
+        timeline.children[0] as Timeline
+      );
     });
 
     it("returns only active timelines", async () => {
@@ -893,12 +895,14 @@ describe("Timeline", () => {
 
       timeline.run();
 
-      expect(timeline.getTimelineByName("outerTimeline")).toBe(timeline);
-      expect(timeline.getTimelineByName("innerTimeline")).toBeUndefined();
+      expect(timeline.getActiveTimelineByName("outerTimeline")).toBe(timeline);
+      expect(timeline.getActiveTimelineByName("innerTimeline")).toBeUndefined();
 
       await TestPlugin.finishTrial();
 
-      expect(timeline.getTimelineByName("innerTimeline")).toBe(timeline.children[1] as Timeline);
+      expect(timeline.getActiveTimelineByName("innerTimeline")).toBe(
+        timeline.children[1] as Timeline
+      );
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.ts b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.ts
index 216764b256..8628f60324 100644
--- a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.ts
+++ b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Timeline.ts
@@ -332,11 +332,11 @@ export class Timeline extends TimelineNode {
     return this.currentChild?.getLatestNode() ?? this;
   }
 
-  public getTimelineByName(name: string) {
+  public getActiveTimelineByName(name: string) {
     if (this.description.name === name) {
       return this;
     }
 
-    return this.currentChild?.getTimelineByName(name);
+    return this.currentChild?.getActiveTimelineByName(name);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/TimelineNode.ts b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/TimelineNode.ts
index 6f73552c08..ee24e8e94c 100644
--- a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/TimelineNode.ts
+++ b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/TimelineNode.ts
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ export abstract class TimelineNode {
   abstract getLatestNode(): TimelineNode;
 
   /**
-   * Returns a child timeline (or itself) that matches the given name, or `undefined` if no such child exists.
+   * Returns an active child timeline (or itself) that matches the given name, or `undefined` if no such child exists.
    */
-  abstract getTimelineByName(name: string): Timeline | undefined;
+  abstract getActiveTimelineByName(name: string): Timeline | undefined;
 
   protected status = TimelineNodeStatus.PENDING;
 
diff --git a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Trial.ts b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Trial.ts
index 866f6fc90d..74892e1354 100644
--- a/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Trial.ts
+++ b/packages/jspsych/src/timeline/Trial.ts
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ export class Trial extends TimelineNode {
     return this;
   }
 
-  public getTimelineByName(name: string): Timeline | undefined {
+  public getActiveTimelineByName(name: string): Timeline | undefined {
     // This returns undefined because the function is looking
     // for a timeline. If we get to this point, then none
     // of the parent nodes match the name.