diff --git a/src/racket/src/place.c b/src/racket/src/place.c
index 6fe7d8e602..e8bf4f9594 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/place.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/place.c
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ static void *mz_proc_thread_signal_worker(void *data) {
             if (prev_unused)
               prev_unused->next_unused = unused_status->next_unused;
             else
-              unused_pid_statuses = next;
+              unused_pid_statuses = unused_status->next_unused;
             free(unused_status);
             unused_status = NULL;
           }