diff --git a/src/tty.c b/src/tty.c
index bfb475d..52e5942 100644
--- a/src/tty.c
+++ b/src/tty.c
@@ -2246,7 +2246,7 @@ void forward_to_tty(int fd, char output_char)
                 }
                 else if (option.input_mode == INPUT_MODE_NORMAL)
                 {
-                    ssize_t status = tty_write(device_fd, &output_char, 1);
+                    status = tty_write(device_fd, &output_char, 1);
                     if (status < 0)
                     {
                         tio_warning_printf("Could not write to tty device");