diff --git a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
index 95d6a6f7c33a..d2ede59b9a3c 100755
--- a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
+++ b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
@@ -2192,7 +2192,7 @@ sub run_bisect {
     }
 
     # Are we looking for where it worked, not failed?
-    if ($reverse_bisect) {
+    if ($reverse_bisect && $ret >= 0) {
 	$ret = !$ret;
     }