diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/sysctl/sysctl.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/sysctl/sysctl.sh
index 6a970b127c9b..a4262955d30f 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/sysctl/sysctl.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/sysctl/sysctl.sh
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ test_reqs()
 
 function load_req_mod()
 {
-	if [ ! -d $DIR ]; then
+	if [ ! -d $SYSCTL ]; then
 		if ! modprobe -q -n $TEST_DRIVER; then
 			echo "$0: module $TEST_DRIVER not found [SKIP]"
 			exit $ksft_skip