diff --git a/wp-admin/edit-form-advanced.php b/wp-admin/edit-form-advanced.php
index d8a7cf99dd..3af9324bf6 100644
--- a/wp-admin/edit-form-advanced.php
+++ b/wp-admin/edit-form-advanced.php
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ addLoadEvent(focusit);
 <p>
 <select name='post_status'>
 <?php if ( current_user_can('publish_posts') ) : ?>
-<?php ( 'private' == $post-post_status ) ? $pub_value = 'private' : $pub_value = 'publish'; ?>
+<?php $pub_value = ( 'private' == $post->post_status ) ? 'private' : 'publish'; ?>
 <option<?php selected( $post->post_status, 'publish' ); selected( $post->post_status, 'private' );?> value='<?php echo $pub_value ?>'><?php _e('Published') ?></option>
 <?php else: ?>
 <option<?php selected( $post->post_status, 'private' ); ?> value='private'><?php _e('Published') ?></option>