diff --git a/fetch-clone.c b/fetch-clone.c
index 2b2aa15ea7..f46fe6ecbb 100644
--- a/fetch-clone.c
+++ b/fetch-clone.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static int finish_pack(const char *pack_tmp_name, const char *me)
 		if (retval < 0) {
 			if (errno == EINTR)
 				continue;
-			error("waitpid failed (%s)", strerror(retval));
+			error("waitpid failed (%s)", strerror(errno));
 			goto error_die;
 		}
 		if (WIFSIGNALED(status)) {