diff --git a/tests/test-rcu-list.c b/tests/test-rcu-list.c
index 1442c0c982..92be51ec50 100644
--- a/tests/test-rcu-list.c
+++ b/tests/test-rcu-list.c
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ static void *rcu_q_updater(void *arg)
             j++;
             if (target_el == j) {
                 struct list_element *new_el = g_new(struct list_element, 1);
-                n_nodes += n_nodes_local;
+                n_nodes_local++;
                 TEST_LIST_INSERT_AFTER_RCU(el, new_el, entry);
                 break;
             }