diff --git a/cpu/native/startup.c b/cpu/native/startup.c
index bb3431a7ed42..5ee0515ff40e 100644
--- a/cpu/native/startup.c
+++ b/cpu/native/startup.c
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ __attribute__((constructor)) static void startup(int argc, char **argv, char **e
         const size_t argc_max = 32;
         size_t cmdlen = 0;
         char *cmdline = malloc(bufsize);
-        argv = calloc(sizeof(char *), argc_max);
+        argv = calloc(argc_max, sizeof(char *));
         argc = 0;
         envp = NULL;
         expect(cmdline != NULL);