diff --git a/mencoder.c b/mencoder.c
index 63d6b4d90d..aa60fa079d 100644
--- a/mencoder.c
+++ b/mencoder.c
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ if (out_file_format == MUXER_TYPE_MPEG)
 	}
 	if (audio_density < 4) {
 	  fprintf(stderr,"Increasing audio density to 4\n");
-	  audio_preload = 4;
+	  audio_density = 4;
 	}
 	}