diff --git a/tools/add.C b/tools/add.C
index 0108adb162..6e2acea954 100644
--- a/tools/add.C
+++ b/tools/add.C
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ void add_user() {
             printf("read_file: %s", global_prefs_file);
             return;
         }
-        user.prefs_mod_time = time(0);
+        user.global_prefs_mod_time = time(0);
     }
     retval = db_user_new(user);
     if (retval) {