diff --git a/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c b/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c
index 6e7976ff44..77afb7bf29 100644
--- a/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c
+++ b/src/vnode/src/vnodeMain.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ void vnodeRelease(void *pVnodeRaw) {
   int32_t    vgId = pVnode->vgId;
 
   int32_t refCount = atomic_sub_fetch_32(&pVnode->refCount, 1);
-  if (ref < 0) {
+  if (refCount < 0) {
     vTrace("vgId:%d, other thread is releasing vnode, refCount:%d", vgId, refCount);
     return; // avoid two threads dec ref count
   }