diff --git a/usr.sbin/newsyslog/newsyslog.c b/usr.sbin/newsyslog/newsyslog.c
index d0d255c7be41..643536bf4065 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/newsyslog/newsyslog.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/newsyslog/newsyslog.c
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ get_worklist(char **files)
 	}
 
 	free_entry(defconf);
-	return (newlist);
+	return (firstnew);
 }
 
 /*