diff --git a/src/laws.c b/src/laws.c
index fc1c8dc88..01aa4be8d 100644
--- a/src/laws.c
+++ b/src/laws.c
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ growing_trees(region * r, const season_t current_season, const season_t last_wee
             a->data.sa[0] = (short)cap_int(rtrees(r, 0), 0, SHRT_MAX);
             a->data.sa[1] = (short)cap_int(rtrees(r, 1), 0, SHRT_MAX);
         }
-        else if (a->data.sa[0] < 0 || a->data.sa[1] << 0) {
+        else if (a->data.sa[0] < 0 || a->data.sa[1] < 0) {
             a->data.sa[0] = (short)cap_int(a->data.sa[0], 0, SHRT_MAX);
             a->data.sa[1] = (short)cap_int(a->data.sa[1], 0, SHRT_MAX);
         }