diff --git a/bin/sh/histedit.c b/bin/sh/histedit.c
index 2d922be7d43d..51e419cf0b36 100644
--- a/bin/sh/histedit.c
+++ b/bin/sh/histedit.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ histcmd(int argc, char **argv)
 	      (ch = getopt(argc, argv, ":e:lnrs")) != -1)
 		switch ((char)ch) {
 		case 'e':
-			editor = shoptarg;
+			editor = optarg;
 			break;
 		case 'l':
 			lflg = 1;