diff --git a/lib/ftp.c b/lib/ftp.c
index a8ef16651..ed6f84958 100644
--- a/lib/ftp.c
+++ b/lib/ftp.c
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ int Curl_GetFTPResponse(int sockfd, char *buf,
          */
         if(CURLE_OK != Curl_read(conn, sockfd, ptr, 1, &keepon))
           keepon = FALSE;
-        else if(keepon < 0)
+        else if(keepon <= 0)
           error = SELECT_ERROR;
         else if ((*ptr == '\n') || (*ptr == '\r'))
           keepon = FALSE;