diff --git a/util/qemu-coroutine-lock.c b/util/qemu-coroutine-lock.c
index fac91582b5..c82ee754be 100644
--- a/util/qemu-coroutine-lock.c
+++ b/util/qemu-coroutine-lock.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ static CoWaitRecord *pop_waiter(CoMutex *mutex)
 
 static bool has_waiters(CoMutex *mutex)
 {
-    return QSLIST_EMPTY(&mutex->to_pop) || QSLIST_EMPTY(&mutex->from_push);
+    return !QSLIST_EMPTY(&mutex->to_pop) || !QSLIST_EMPTY(&mutex->from_push);
 }
 
 void qemu_co_mutex_init(CoMutex *mutex)