diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index 69ad679fbf5..f9943927ca2 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -2506,7 +2506,7 @@ to the file, instead of any buffer contents, and END is ignored.")
 
   filename = Fexpand_file_name (filename, Qnil);
   if (XTYPE (visit) == Lisp_String)
-    visit = Fexpand_file_name (visit, Qnil);
+    visit_file = Fexpand_file_name (visit, Qnil);
   else
     visit_file = filename;