diff --git a/appl/popper/pop_dropcopy.c b/appl/popper/pop_dropcopy.c
index 8232236c1..499ca7be8 100644
--- a/appl/popper/pop_dropcopy.c
+++ b/appl/popper/pop_dropcopy.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ pop_dropcopy(POP *p, struct passwd *pwp)
      */
 
     strcpy(template, POP_TMPDROP);
-    if ((tf_fd = mkstemp(template) < 0) ||
+    if ((tf_fd = mkstemp(template)) < 0 ||
 	(tf = fdopen(tf_fd, "w+")) == NULL) {
         pop_log(p,POP_PRIORITY,
             "Unable to create temporary temporary maildrop '%s': %s",template,