diff --git a/src/pl/plperl/plperl.c b/src/pl/plperl/plperl.c
index fb23ae2d935..7a92f3d8e28 100644
--- a/src/pl/plperl/plperl.c
+++ b/src/pl/plperl/plperl.c
@@ -2062,7 +2062,7 @@ plperl_call_perl_trigger_func(plperl_proc_desc *desc, FunctionCallInfo fcinfo,
 	ENTER;
 	SAVETMPS;
 
-	TDsv = get_sv("_TD", 0);
+	TDsv = get_sv("main::_TD", 0);
 	if (!TDsv)
 		elog(ERROR, "couldn't fetch $_TD");