diff --git a/src/or/main.c b/src/or/main.c
index 49c1b667a..e691c53b1 100644
--- a/src/or/main.c
+++ b/src/or/main.c
@@ -3085,7 +3085,7 @@ tor_main(int argc, char *argv[])
     result = 0;
     break;
   case CMD_VERIFY_CONFIG:
-    if (get_options()->quiet_level)
+    if (quiet_level == 0)
       printf("Configuration was valid\n");
     result = 0;
     break;