diff --git a/shell/ash.c b/shell/ash.c
index 50f479d1a..c9d39b875 100644
--- a/shell/ash.c
+++ b/shell/ash.c
@@ -9576,7 +9576,7 @@ evalcommand(union node *cmd, int flags)
 		if (applet_no >= 0 && APPLET_IS_NOFORK(applet_no)) {
 			listsetvar(varlist.list, VEXPORT|VSTACK);
 			/* run <applet>_main() */
-			exitstatus = run_nofork_applet(applet_no, argv);
+			status = run_nofork_applet(applet_no, argv);
 			break;
 		}
 #endif