diff --git a/src/alert-prelude.c b/src/alert-prelude.c
index 75518ed782..11cbbcc22e 100644
--- a/src/alert-prelude.c
+++ b/src/alert-prelude.c
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ static int EventToSourceTarget(Packet *p, idmef_alert_t *alert)
         SCReturnInt(ret);
 
     ret = idmef_target_new_service(target, &service);
-    if ( ! ret < 0 )
+    if ( ret < 0 )
         SCReturnInt(ret);
 
     if ( p->tcph || p->udph )