diff --git a/lib/reline/windows.rb b/lib/reline/windows.rb
index 3425c1347743b1..aef3073a7ea919 100644
--- a/lib/reline/windows.rb
+++ b/lib/reline/windows.rb
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def self.getc
     else
       case input
       when 0x00
-        alt = false
+        meta = false
         @@output_buf.push(input)
         input = getwch
         @@output_buf.push(*input)