diff --git a/kernel/src/sys/waitpid.cpp b/kernel/src/sys/waitpid.cpp
index f533768f..a5162a2f 100644
--- a/kernel/src/sys/waitpid.cpp
+++ b/kernel/src/sys/waitpid.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Result<u64> sys_waitpid(Registers* regs, SyscallArgs args)
             check(current->child_being_waited_for != -1);
 
             target = TRY(Result<Process*>::from_option(Scheduler::find_by_pid(current->child_being_waited_for), ESRCH));
-            check(!target->dead());
+            check(target->dead());
         }
         else
             target = child.value();