diff --git a/bin/sh/var.c b/bin/sh/var.c
index bc00e061c83f..6041459e6864 100644
--- a/bin/sh/var.c
+++ b/bin/sh/var.c
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ showvarscmd(int argc __unused, char **argv __unused)
 		}
 	}
 
-	INTON;
+	INTOFF;
 	vars = ckmalloc(n * sizeof(*vars));
 	i = 0;
 	for (vpp = vartab; vpp < vartab + VTABSIZE; vpp++) {
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ showvarscmd(int argc __unused, char **argv __unused)
 		out1c('\n');
 	}
 	ckfree(vars);
-	INTOFF;
+	INTON;
 
 	return 0;
 }