diff --git a/lib/libc/gen/setproctitle.c b/lib/libc/gen/setproctitle.c
index 9dff3287102..2cde895b5e4 100644
--- a/lib/libc/gen/setproctitle.c
+++ b/lib/libc/gen/setproctitle.c
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ setproctitle(const char *fmt, ...)
 		len = sizeof(ul_ps_strings);
 		if (sysctlbyname("kern.ps_strings", &ul_ps_strings, &len, NULL,
 		    0) == -1)
-			ul_ps_strings = PS_STRINGS;
+			return;
 		ps_strings = (struct ps_strings *)ul_ps_strings;
 	}