diff --git a/cssutils/css/cssstylesheet.py b/cssutils/css/cssstylesheet.py
index e4bf0727..f82537ed 100644
--- a/cssutils/css/cssstylesheet.py
+++ b/cssutils/css/cssstylesheet.py
@@ -131,7 +131,13 @@ def _getUsedURIs(self):
                         useduris.update(r2.selectorList._getUsedUris())
         return useduris
 
-    def _setCssRules(self, cssRules):
+    @property
+    def cssRules(self):
+        "All Rules in this style sheet, a :class:`~cssutils.css.CSSRuleList`."
+        return self._cssRules
+
+    @cssRules.setter
+    def cssRules(self, cssRules):
         "Set new cssRules and update contained rules refs."
         cssRules.append = self.insertRule
         cssRules.extend = self.insertRule
@@ -142,12 +148,6 @@ def _setCssRules(self, cssRules):
 
         self._cssRules = cssRules
 
-    cssRules = property(
-        lambda self: self._cssRules,
-        _setCssRules,
-        "All Rules in this style sheet, a " ":class:`~cssutils.css.CSSRuleList`.",
-    )
-
     def _getCssText(self):
         "Textual representation of the stylesheet (a byte string)."
         return cssutils.ser.do_CSSStyleSheet(self)