diff --git a/lib/database.cc b/lib/database.cc
index 583a16ed..3c8d626e 100644
--- a/lib/database.cc
+++ b/lib/database.cc
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@ notmuch_database_add_message (notmuch_database_t *notmuch,
 	 * (which may or may not reference an existing document in the
 	 * database). */
 
-	message = _notmuch_message_create_for_message_id (database,
+	message = _notmuch_message_create_for_message_id (notmuch,
 							  notmuch,
 							  message_id,
 							  &private_status);