diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cglib/core/ReflectUtils.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cglib/core/ReflectUtils.java
index 2f3ac37e65..f11a75fc06 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cglib/core/ReflectUtils.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cglib/core/ReflectUtils.java
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ public class ReflectUtils {
 				// in case of plain LinkageError (class already defined)
 				// or IllegalArgumentException (class in different package):
 				// fall through to traditional ClassLoader.defineClass below
-				t = ex;
+				t = target;
 			}
 			catch (Throwable ex) {
 				throw new CodeGenerationException(ex);