diff --git a/sql/sys_vars.h b/sql/sys_vars.h
index 8b51e65b227..6b7546bb16a 100644
--- a/sql/sys_vars.h
+++ b/sql/sys_vars.h
@@ -741,7 +741,8 @@ public:
                on_check_function on_check_func=0,
                on_update_function on_update_func=0,
                const char *substitute=0)
-    : sys_var(&all_sys_vars, name_arg, comment, flag_args, 0, getopt.id,
+    : sys_var(&all_sys_vars, name_arg, comment, flag_args,
+              - (ptrdiff_t) &global_system_variables, getopt.id,
               getopt.arg_type, SHOW_CHAR, (intptr)def_val,
               lock, binlog_status_arg, on_check_func, on_update_func,
               substitute)