diff --git a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
index 19b15de455ab..4469dcc1558f 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ static bool batadv_is_orig_node_eligible(struct batadv_dat_candidate *res,
 	 * the one with the lowest address
 	 */
 	if (tmp_max == max && max_orig_node &&
-	    batadv_compare_eth(candidate->orig, max_orig_node->orig) > 0)
+	    batadv_compare_eth(candidate->orig, max_orig_node->orig))
 		goto out;
 
 	ret = true;