diff --git a/src/snmalloc/mem/corealloc.h b/src/snmalloc/mem/corealloc.h
index e2a99f2..61fe580 100644
--- a/src/snmalloc/mem/corealloc.h
+++ b/src/snmalloc/mem/corealloc.h
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ namespace snmalloc
         }
       };
 
-      return !(message_queue().can_dequeue(domesticate));
+      return message_queue().can_dequeue(domesticate);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/snmalloc/mem/remoteallocator.h b/src/snmalloc/mem/remoteallocator.h
index 2d15e6d..e3c45bc 100644
--- a/src/snmalloc/mem/remoteallocator.h
+++ b/src/snmalloc/mem/remoteallocator.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ namespace snmalloc
     inline bool can_dequeue(Domesticator_head domesticate_head)
     {
       return domesticate_head(front.load())
-               ->atomic_read_next(key_global, domesticate_head) == nullptr;
+               ->atomic_read_next(key_global, domesticate_head) != nullptr;
     }
 
     /**