diff --git a/src/kits/app/Messenger.cpp b/src/kits/app/Messenger.cpp
index a3d53f9456..eb2e726f6a 100644
--- a/src/kits/app/Messenger.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/app/Messenger.cpp
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ void
 BMessenger::_InitData(const BHandler* handler, const BLooper* looper,
 	status_t* _result)
 {
-	status_t result = handler || looper != NULL ? B_OK : B_BAD_VALUE;
+	status_t result = (handler != NULL || looper != NULL) ? B_OK : B_BAD_VALUE;
 	if (result == B_OK) {
 		if (handler != NULL) {
 			// BHandler is given, check/retrieve the looper.