diff --git a/stable/cpu.c b/stable/cpu.c
index 49977b3ea..e5f3dee6d 100644
--- a/stable/cpu.c
+++ b/stable/cpu.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ int cpu_group_find_highest_id(cpu_group_t *group,u_int *highest_id)
    cpu_gen_t *cpu;
    u_int max_id = 0;
 
-   if (!group || group->cpu_list)
+   if (!group || !group->cpu_list)
       return(-1);
 
    for(cpu=group->cpu_list;cpu;cpu=cpu->next)
diff --git a/unstable/cpu.c b/unstable/cpu.c
index e03fb36bc..766fb1fed 100644
--- a/unstable/cpu.c
+++ b/unstable/cpu.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ int cpu_group_find_highest_id(cpu_group_t *group,u_int *highest_id)
    cpu_gen_t *cpu;
    u_int max_id = 0;
 
-   if (!group || group->cpu_list)
+   if (!group || !group->cpu_list)
       return(-1);
 
    for(cpu=group->cpu_list;cpu;cpu=cpu->next)