diff --git a/lib/thread/thread.c b/lib/thread/thread.c
index d4028400f..a6ce5ac08 100644
--- a/lib/thread/thread.c
+++ b/lib/thread/thread.c
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ spdk_thread_poll(struct spdk_thread *thread, uint32_t max_msgs)
 		}
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
-		if (rc == -1) {
+		if (poller_rc == -1) {
 			SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_THREAD, "Poller %p returned -1\n", poller);
 		}
 #endif