diff --git a/src/modal.c b/src/modal.c
index 4a5cf6c..8b72423 100644
--- a/src/modal.c
+++ b/src/modal.c
@@ -212,6 +212,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	while(*(--w) <= ' ') *w = 0;
 	fclose(f);
 	while(rewrite())
-		if(cycles--) return !fprintf(stderr, "Cycle limit exceeded.\n");
+		if(!cycles--) return !fprintf(stderr, "Cycle limit exceeded.\n");
 	return 0;
 }
\ No newline at end of file