diff --git a/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c b/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c
index 33968ee138be..f1207e03f4c9 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ pw_user_next(int argc, char **argv, char *name __unused)
 			cfg = optarg;
 			break;
 		case 'q':
-			quiet;
+			quiet = true;
 			break;
 		}
 	}