diff --git a/fhem/FHEM/98_ping.pm b/fhem/FHEM/98_ping.pm
index 60b2fb0da..43801eddd 100644
--- a/fhem/FHEM/98_ping.pm
+++ b/fhem/FHEM/98_ping.pm
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ sub ping_Define($$)
   $hash->{TIMEOUT} = $timeout;
   
   return "ERROR: mode must be one of tcp,udp,icmp" if ($hash->{MODE} !~ "tcp|udp|icmp");
-  return "ERROR: timeout must be 0 or higher." if (($hash->{timeout} !~ /^\d*$/) || ($hash->{timeout} < 0));
+  return "ERROR: timeout must be 0 or higher." if (($hash->{TIMEOUT} !~ /^\d*$/) || ($hash->{TIMEOUT} < 0));
   
   $attr{$name}{"checkInterval"} = 10 if (!defined($attr{$name}{"checkInterval"}));