diff --git a/docs/subscriptions.rst b/docs/subscriptions.rst
index 85a4f303cf..2dd4b23b6c 100644
--- a/docs/subscriptions.rst
+++ b/docs/subscriptions.rst
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ When you subscribe to an event – new block headers, for example – you'll rec
                 print(response)
 
                 # unsubscribe:
-                if response["number"] > 42012345:
+                new_head = response["result"]
+                if new_head["number"] > 42012345:
                     await w3.eth.unsubscribe(subscription_id)
                     break
 
diff --git a/newsfragments/3850.docs.rst b/newsfragments/3850.docs.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..46ef71fc5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragments/3850.docs.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix the introductory subscription example to read the block number from the formatted subscription response result.