diff --git a/cf_xarray/accessor.py b/cf_xarray/accessor.py
index 2d828963..78610310 100644
--- a/cf_xarray/accessor.py
+++ b/cf_xarray/accessor.py
@@ -2107,17 +2107,14 @@ def cell_measures(self) -> dict[str, list[Hashable]]:
         """
 
         obj = self._obj
+        if isinstance(obj, DataArray):
+            variables = [*obj.coords.variables.values(), obj.variable]
+        else:
+            variables = list(obj.variables.values())
         all_attrs = [
-            ChainMap(da.attrs, da.encoding).get("cell_measures", "")
-            for da in obj.coords.values()
+            ChainMap(var.attrs, var.encoding).get("cell_measures", "")
+            for var in variables
         ]
-        if isinstance(obj, DataArray):
-            all_attrs += [ChainMap(obj.attrs, obj.encoding).get("cell_measures", "")]
-        elif isinstance(obj, Dataset):
-            all_attrs += [
-                ChainMap(da.attrs, da.encoding).get("cell_measures", "")
-                for da in obj.data_vars.values()
-            ]
         as_dataset = self._maybe_to_dataset().reset_coords()
 
         keys: dict[str, str] = {}