diff --git a/src/log.c b/src/log.c
index 293c8fe..84b0a03 100644
--- a/src/log.c
+++ b/src/log.c
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ open_debug(void)
 		return 1;
 
 	debugfp = fopen(opts.debug, "w");
-	if (logfp == NULL) {
+	if (debugfp == NULL) {
 		error("opening debug file %s: %s\n", opts.debug, strerror(errno));
 		return 1;
 	}