diff --git a/src/message.c b/src/message.c
index 576d922..5853e47 100644
--- a/src/message.c
+++ b/src/message.c
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@
 	return;
 
     // Don't let the message history get too big
-    while (msg_hist_len > MAX_MSG_HIST_LEN)
+    while (msg_hist_len > p_mhi)
 	(void)delete_first_msg();
 
     // allocate an entry and add the message at the end of the history