diff --git a/sadc.c b/sadc.c
index d2e2cdfe..160f9c57 100644
--- a/sadc.c
+++ b/sadc.c
@@ -925,11 +925,11 @@ void open_ofile(int *ofd, char ofile[], int restart_mark)
 			 */
 			goto append_error;
 
-		if (!file_act[i].nr || !file_act[i].nr2 ||
+		if ((file_act[i].nr <= 0) || (file_act[i].nr2 <= 0) ||
 		    (file_act[i].nr > act[p]->nr_max) ||
 		    (file_act[i].nr2 > NR2_MAX)) {
 			/*
-			 * Number of items and subitems should never be null,
+			 * Number of items and subitems should never be zero (or negative)
 			 * or greater than their upper limit.
 			 */
 			goto append_error;