--- a/ext/mysqli/mysqli_nonapi.c
+++ b/ext/mysqli/mysqli_nonapi.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ void mysqli_common_connect(INTERNAL_FUNC
 	php_mysqli_set_error(mysql_errno(mysql->mysql), (char *) mysql_error(mysql->mysql));
 
 #if !defined(MYSQLI_USE_MYSQLND)
-	mysql->mysql->reconnect = MyG(reconnect);
+	mysql_options(mysql->mysql, MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT, (my_bool *)&MyG(reconnect));
 #endif
 
 	mysql_options(mysql->mysql, MYSQL_OPT_LOCAL_INFILE, (char *)&MyG(allow_local_infile));