diff --git a/job.c b/job.c
index 337703f0..48184f96 100644
--- a/job.c
+++ b/job.c
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ start_waiting_job (c)
     {
       /* Put this child on the chain of children waiting
 	 for the load average to go down.  */
-      c->file->command_state = cs_running;
+      set_command_state (c->file, cs_running);
       c->next = waiting_jobs;
       waiting_jobs = c;
       return 0;