diff --git a/usr.bin/join/join.c b/usr.bin/join/join.c
index b9e708dd98c..eab0dbcac90 100644
--- a/usr.bin/join/join.c
+++ b/usr.bin/join/join.c
@@ -392,9 +392,9 @@ static int
 cmp(LINE *lp1, u_long fieldno1, LINE *lp2, u_long fieldno2)
 {
 	if (lp1->fieldcnt <= fieldno1)
-		return (lp2->fieldcnt <= fieldno2 ? 0 : 1);
+		return (lp2->fieldcnt <= fieldno2 ? 0 : -1);
 	if (lp2->fieldcnt <= fieldno2)
-		return (-1);
+		return (1);
 	return (mbscoll(lp1->fields[fieldno1], lp2->fields[fieldno2]));
 }