diff --git a/wp-admin/admin-functions.php b/wp-admin/admin-functions.php
index 1228731e46..bd6f75216a 100644
--- a/wp-admin/admin-functions.php
+++ b/wp-admin/admin-functions.php
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ function edit_post() {
 	$_POST['to_ping'] = $_POST['trackback_url'];
 
 	if (!empty ($_POST['post_author_override'])) {
-		$_POST['$post_author'] = (int) $_POST['post_author_override'];
+		$_POST['post_author'] = (int) $_POST['post_author_override'];
 	} else
 		if (!empty ($_POST['post_author'])) {
 			$_POST['post_author'] = (int) $_POST['post_author'];