diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
index 17b7e11e02..13474513c2 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
@@ -193,11 +193,11 @@ virQEMUDriverConfigPtr virQEMUDriverConfigNew(bool privileged)
         if (virAsprintf(&cfg->swtpmStorageDir, "%s/lib/libvirt/swtpm",
                         LOCALSTATEDIR) < 0)
             goto error;
-        if (virDoesUserExist("tss") != 0 ||
-            virGetUserID("tss", &cfg->swtpm_user) < 0)
+        if (!(virDoesUserExist("tss") != 0 &&
+            virGetUserID("tss", &cfg->swtpm_user) < 0))
             cfg->swtpm_user = 0; /* fall back to root */
-        if (virDoesGroupExist("tss") != 0 ||
-            virGetGroupID("tss", &cfg->swtpm_group) < 0)
+        if (!(virDoesGroupExist("tss") != 0 &&
+            virGetGroupID("tss", &cfg->swtpm_group) < 0))
             cfg->swtpm_group = 0; /* fall back to root */
     } else {
         char *rundir;