diff --git a/src/access.c b/src/access.c
index 20e798f52..f652752af 100644
--- a/src/access.c
+++ b/src/access.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ access_ticket_create(const char *resource, access_t *a)
   at->at_access = access_copy(a);
   at->at_timer.mti_expire = mclk() + lifetime;

-  i = TAILQ_FIRST(&access_tickets) != NULL;
+  i = TAILQ_EMPTY(&access_tickets);

   TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&access_tickets, at, at_link);