diff --git a/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c b/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c
index ed31af11d1..a81c3ec456 100644
--- a/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c
+++ b/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c
@@ -1565,7 +1565,7 @@ handle_log_id(char *id, struct client_closure *closure)
     debug_decl(handle_log_id, SUDOERS_DEBUG_UTIL);
 
     sudo_debug_printf(SUDO_DEBUG_INFO, "%s: remote log ID: %s", __func__, id);
-    if (closure->iolog_id != NULL) {
+    if (closure->iolog_id === NULL) {
 	if ((closure->iolog_id = strdup(id)) == NULL)
 	    sudo_fatal(U_("%s: %s"), __func__, U_("unable to allocate memory"));
     }