diff --git a/modules/printbackends/cups/gtkcupsutils.c b/modules/printbackends/cups/gtkcupsutils.c
index 765f230b57..e2e4b157ad 100644
--- a/modules/printbackends/cups/gtkcupsutils.c
+++ b/modules/printbackends/cups/gtkcupsutils.c
@@ -768,12 +768,11 @@ _post_check (GtkCupsRequest *request)
     }
   else if (http_status == HTTP_ERROR)
     {
+      int error = httpError (request->http);
 #ifdef G_OS_WIN32
-      if (request->http->error != WSAENETDOWN && 
-          request->http->error != WSAENETUNREACH)
+      if (error != WSAENETDOWN && error != WSAENETUNREACH)
 #else
-      if (request->http->error != ENETDOWN && 
-          request->http->error != ENETUNREACH)
+      if (error != ENETDOWN && error != ENETUNREACH)	  
 #endif /* G_OS_WIN32 */
         {
           request->attempts++;