diff --git a/lib/awful/client.lua.in b/lib/awful/client.lua.in
index 6d49332a9..0d6988443 100644
--- a/lib/awful/client.lua.in
+++ b/lib/awful/client.lua.in
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ function client.setwfact(wfact, c)
     local colfact = data[w.col]
 
     colfact[w.idx] = wfact
-    rest = 1-wfact
+    local rest = 1-wfact
 
     -- calculate the current denominator
     local total = 0