diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index ae9cf9c43..cd0969311 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -1693,7 +1693,7 @@ static int parse_races(xmlDocPtr doc)
         if (xml_bvalue(node, "irongolem", false))
             rc->flags |= RCF_IRONGOLEM;
 
-        if (!xml_bvalue(node, "keepitem", false))
+        if (xml_bvalue(node, "keepitem", false))
             rc->ec_flags |= ECF_KEEP_ITEM;
         if (xml_bvalue(node, "giveperson", false))
             rc->ec_flags |= GIVEPERSON;