diff --git a/runtime/compiler/optimizer/EscapeAnalysisTools.cpp b/runtime/compiler/optimizer/EscapeAnalysisTools.cpp
index e4d247f1564..d80911f02b3 100644
--- a/runtime/compiler/optimizer/EscapeAnalysisTools.cpp
+++ b/runtime/compiler/optimizer/EscapeAnalysisTools.cpp
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ void TR_EscapeAnalysisTools::processSymbolReferences(TR_Array<List<TR::SymbolRef
                   if ((definingSym->isAuto() || definingSym->isParm())
                       && (deadSymRefs == NULL || !deadSymRefs->isSet(definingSymRefNum)))
                      {
-                     symRefsToLoad.set(symRefNum);
+                     symRefsToLoad.set(definingSymRefNum);
 
                      if (_comp->trace(OMR::escapeAnalysis) || _comp->getOption(TR_TraceOSR))
                         {