diff --git a/src/client/api/rpc.c b/src/client/api/rpc.c
index b198152784f..fefb4dbf4fe 100644
--- a/src/client/api/rpc.c
+++ b/src/client/api/rpc.c
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ daos_rpc_proto_query(crt_opcode_t base_opc, uint32_t *ver_array, int count, int
 	}
 
 	num_ranks = dc_mgmt_net_get_num_srv_ranks();
-	rproto->ep.ep_rank = rand() % num_ranks;
+	rproto->ep.ep_rank = d_rand() % num_ranks;
 	rproto->ver_array = ver_array;
 	rproto->array_size = count;
 	rproto->ep.ep_grp = sys->sy_group;