diff --git a/src/perl/irssi-perl.c b/src/perl/irssi-perl.c
index 07f8f81d..bf115e9e 100644
--- a/src/perl/irssi-perl.c
+++ b/src/perl/irssi-perl.c
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ void irssi_perl_init(void)
 	command_bind("perlflush", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_flush);
 	signal_grabbed = siglast_grabbed = FALSE;
 
-        PL_perl_destruct_level = 1;
+        perl_destruct_level = 1;
 	irssi_perl_start();
 	irssi_perl_autorun();
 }