diff --git a/modules/core/src/parallel.cpp b/modules/core/src/parallel.cpp
index a32f2f178a..0745b5a6e9 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/parallel.cpp
+++ b/modules/core/src/parallel.cpp
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ static inline int _initMaxThreads()
     {
         omp_set_dynamic(maxThreads);
     }
-    return numThreads;
+    return maxThreads;
 }
 static int numThreadsMax = _initMaxThreads();
 #elif defined HAVE_GCD