diff --git a/lib/ofp-parse.c b/lib/ofp-parse.c
index 83f06f30f..ffb17fa82 100644
--- a/lib/ofp-parse.c
+++ b/lib/ofp-parse.c
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@ parse_ofp_group_mod_str__(struct ofputil_group_mod *gm, uint16_t command,
             if(!strcmp(value, "all")) {
                 gm->group_id = OFPG_ALL;
             } else {
-                char *error = str_to_u32(value, &gm->group_id);
+                error = str_to_u32(value, &gm->group_id);
                 if (error) {
                     goto out;
                 }
diff --git a/tests/ofproto.at b/tests/ofproto.at
index 3d15fea1a..f4e5321d0 100644
--- a/tests/ofproto.at
+++ b/tests/ofproto.at
@@ -313,6 +313,11 @@ AT_CHECK([ovs-ofctl -O OpenFlow11 -vwarn dump-groups br0], [0], [stdout])
 AT_CHECK([STRIP_XIDS stdout], [0], [dnl
 OFPST_GROUP_DESC reply (OF1.1):
 ])
+
+# Negative test.
+AT_CHECK([ovs-ofctl -O OpenFlow11 -vwarn del-groups br0 group_id=0xfffffff0],
+  [1], [], [ovs-ofctl: invalid group id 4294967280
+])
 OVS_VSWITCHD_STOP
 AT_CLEANUP