diff --git a/satpy/cf/attrs.py b/satpy/cf/attrs.py
index cdec8500d4..adcc2ba60a 100644
--- a/satpy/cf/attrs.py
+++ b/satpy/cf/attrs.py
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ def _encode_to_cf(obj):
         return _encode_python_objects(obj)
 
 
-def _encode_nc_attrs(attrs):
-    """Encode dataset attributes in a netcdf compatible datatype.
+def encode_attrs_to_cf(attrs):
+    """Encode dataset attributes as a netcdf compatible datatype.
 
     Args:
         attrs (dict):
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def preprocess_attrs(
     if flatten_attrs:
         data_arr.attrs = flatten_dict(data_arr.attrs)
 
-    data_arr.attrs = _encode_nc_attrs(data_arr.attrs)
+    data_arr.attrs = encode_attrs_to_cf(data_arr.attrs)
 
     return data_arr
 
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ def preprocess_header_attrs(header_attrs, flatten_attrs=False):
     if header_attrs is not None:
         if flatten_attrs:
             header_attrs = flatten_dict(header_attrs)
-        header_attrs = _encode_nc_attrs(header_attrs)  # OrderedDict
+        header_attrs = encode_attrs_to_cf(header_attrs)  # OrderedDict
     else:
         header_attrs = {}
     header_attrs = _add_history(header_attrs)
diff --git a/satpy/tests/cf_tests/test_attrs.py b/satpy/tests/cf_tests/test_attrs.py
index 082dea602c..4772d5e428 100644
--- a/satpy/tests/cf_tests/test_attrs.py
+++ b/satpy/tests/cf_tests/test_attrs.py
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ class TestCFAttributeEncoding:
 
     def test__encode_nc_attrs(self):
         """Test attributes encoding."""
-        from satpy.cf.attrs import _encode_nc_attrs
+        from satpy.cf.attrs import encode_attrs_to_cf
         from satpy.tests.cf_tests._test_data import get_test_attrs
         from satpy.tests.utils import assert_dict_array_equality
 
         attrs, expected, _ = get_test_attrs()
 
         # Test encoding
-        encoded = _encode_nc_attrs(attrs)
+        encoded = encode_attrs_to_cf(attrs)
         assert_dict_array_equality(expected, encoded)
 
         # Test decoding of json-encoded attributes