diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c
index ca0cf8a86671..2b5aaa940957 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c
@@ -1438,7 +1438,7 @@ static int rtw_check_join_candidate(struct mlme_priv *pmlmepriv
 			goto exit;
 	}
 
-	if (*candidate == NULL || (*candidate)->network.Rssi < competitor->network.Rssi) {
+	if (!*candidate || (*candidate)->network.Rssi < competitor->network.Rssi) {
 		*candidate = competitor;
 		updated = true;
 	}