diff --git a/opal/runtime/opal_init.c b/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
index c02adc6e0a..fbe07b4211 100644
--- a/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
+++ b/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ opal_init_util(void)
     }
 
     /* register params for opal */
-    if (OPAL_SUCCESS !=  opal_register_params()) {
+    if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_register_params())) {
         error = "opal_register_params";
         goto return_error;
     }