diff --git a/src/bin/e_sys_main.c b/src/bin/e_sys_main.c
index da40590d2..a3f1c074b 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_sys_main.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_sys_main.c
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ main(int argc,
                        p = strchr(tmp, '=');
                        if (!p) abort();
                        *p = 0;
-                       NOENV(p);
+                       NOENV(tmp);
                        free(tmp);
                        /* and mark our do to try again from the start in case
                         * unsetenv changes environ ptr */