diff --git a/benchmark/syr2.c b/benchmark/syr2.c
index 61d1036ea..6976898f2 100644
--- a/benchmark/syr2.c
+++ b/benchmark/syr2.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]){
   int step =   1;
   int loops =  1;
 
-  if ((p = getenv("OPENBLAS_LOOPS"))) loops=*p;
+  if ((p = getenv("OPENBLAS_LOOPS"))) loops=atoi(p);
 
   double time1,timeg;