diff --git a/utils/checkpackagelib/lib_mk.py b/utils/checkpackagelib/lib_mk.py
index 1e6bd708a5..d21e409b4c 100644
--- a/utils/checkpackagelib/lib_mk.py
+++ b/utils/checkpackagelib/lib_mk.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ class TypoInPackageVariable(_CheckFunction):
 
         if self.ALLOWED.match(variable):
             return
-        if self.REGEX.search(text) is None:
+        if self.REGEX.search(variable) is None:
             return ["{}:{}: possible typo: {} -> *{}*"
                     .format(self.filename, lineno, variable, self.package),
                     text]