diff --git a/src/plugins/esd/ao_esd.c b/src/plugins/esd/ao_esd.c
index c73a9eb54ff4a9e3358cf9f3ed2901dff76b7436..96431db812aa1eafbf21813f3bb6054c0b3bb512 100644
--- a/src/plugins/esd/ao_esd.c
+++ b/src/plugins/esd/ao_esd.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int ao_plugin_test()
 	int sock;
 
 	/* don't wake up the beast while detecting */
-	setenv("ESD_NO_SPAWN", "1", 1); 
+	putenv("ESD_NO_SPAWN=1"); 
 	sock = esd_open_sound(NULL);
 	if (sock < 0)
 		return 0;