diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index 8640fa764..1c86b9f57 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -3720,7 +3720,7 @@ use_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
   if (itype!=NULL) {
     int i = use_item(u, itype, n, ord);
     assert(i<=0 || !"use_item should not return positive values.");
-    if (i<=0) {
+    if (i>0) {
       log_error(("use_item returned a value>0 for %s\n", resourcename(itype->rtype, 0)));
     }     
   } else {