diff --git a/tensordict/tensordict.py b/tensordict/tensordict.py
index 91bc04a54..08c35a361 100644
--- a/tensordict/tensordict.py
+++ b/tensordict/tensordict.py
@@ -227,12 +227,13 @@ def __len__(self):
             i += 1
         return i
 
-    # TODO fix method for SubTensorDict case
     def _items(self, tensordict=None):
         if tensordict is None:
             tensordict = self.tensordict
         if isinstance(tensordict, TensorDict):
             return tensordict._tensordict.items()
+        elif isinstance(tensordict, SubTensorDict):
+            return tensordict._source._tensordict.items()
         elif isinstance(tensordict, LazyStackedTensorDict):
             return _iter_items_lazystack(tensordict)
         elif isinstance(tensordict, KeyedJaggedTensor):
@@ -242,6 +243,9 @@ def _items(self, tensordict=None):
             # or _CustomOpTensorDict, so as we iterate through the contents we need to
             # be careful to not rely on tensordict._tensordict existing.
             return ((key, tensordict.get(key)) for key in tensordict._source.keys())
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            f"_TensorDictKeysView doesn't support {tensordict.__class__}"
+        )
 
     def _keys(self):
         return self.tensordict._tensordict.keys()