diff --git a/compiler/rustc_errors/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_errors/src/lib.rs
index 17bcc31c0064d..e47daf4afa172 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_errors/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_errors/src/lib.rs
@@ -1162,7 +1162,7 @@ impl DiagCtxt {
         let mut inner = self.inner.borrow_mut();
 
         if loud && lint_level.is_error() {
-            inner.err_count += 1;
+            inner.lint_err_count += 1;
             inner.panic_if_treat_err_as_bug();
         }