diff --git a/nmap-update/nmap-update.c b/nmap-update/nmap-update.c
index 9611a20da..6bb7276d8 100644
--- a/nmap-update/nmap-update.c
+++ b/nmap-update/nmap-update.c
@@ -1059,7 +1059,7 @@ static int makedirs(const char *dirname)
 		return -1;
 
 	rc = makedir(dirname);
-	if (rc == 0)
+	if (rc == -1)
 		return -1;
 
 	return rc;