diff --git a/src/racket/src/place.c b/src/racket/src/place.c
index 14c61780b1..81503685e4 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/place.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/place.c
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ static void *mz_proc_thread_signal_worker(void *data) {
       } else {
         if (is_group) {
           prev_unused = unused_status;
-          unused_status = unused_status->next;
+          unused_status = unused_status->next_unused;
         }
       }
     } while ((pid > 0) || is_group);