diff --git a/scripts/helper/functions.sh b/scripts/helper/functions.sh
index 58a72c9c9..fd42fb959 100755
--- a/scripts/helper/functions.sh
+++ b/scripts/helper/functions.sh
@@ -112,14 +112,14 @@ clean_demo_env()
 
 }
 
-check_num_certs() {
+check_truststore_valid() {
   local DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null && pwd )"
   NUM_CERTS=$(docker run --rm -v $DIR/../security:/etc/kafka/secrets localbuild/connect:${CONFLUENT_DOCKER_TAG}-${CONNECTOR_VERSION} \
-    keytool --list --keystore /etc/kafka/secrets/kafka.connect.truststore.jks --storepass confluent | grep trusted | wc -l)
+    keytool --list --keystore /etc/kafka/secrets/kafka.connect.truststore.jks --storepass confluent | grep trusted | wc -l | xargs)
   if [[ "$NUM_CERTS" -eq "1" ]]; then
-    return 1
+    return 0
   fi
-  return 0
+  return 1
 }
 
 create_certificates()
diff --git a/scripts/start.sh b/scripts/start.sh
index 50b5b41a1..3effae79b 100755
--- a/scripts/start.sh
+++ b/scripts/start.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ CLEAN=${CLEAN:-false}
 build_connect_image
 
 # Set the CLEAN variable to true if cert doesn't exist
-if ! [[ -f "${DIR}/security/controlCenterAndKsqlDBServer-ca1-signed.crt" ]] || ! check_num_certs; then
+if ! [[ -f "${DIR}/security/controlCenterAndKsqlDBServer-ca1-signed.crt" ]] || ! check_truststore_valid; then
   echo "INFO: Running with CLEAN=true because instructed or certificates don't yet exist."
   clean_demo_env
   CLEAN=true
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ echo
 
 if [[ "$CLEAN" == "true" ]] ; then
   create_certificates || exit 1
-  if [[ ! check_num_certs ]]; then
-    echo -e "\nERROR: Expected ~147 trusted certificates on the Kafka Connect server but got 1. Please troubleshoot and try again."
+  if ! check_truststore_valid; then
+    echo -e "\nERROR: Expected valid trusted certificates on the Kafka Connect server. Please troubleshoot and try again."
     exit 1
   fi
 fi