diff --git a/net/arp/arp_out.c b/net/arp/arp_out.c
index c9be188b9d..ab5b6415f9 100644
--- a/net/arp/arp_out.c
+++ b/net/arp/arp_out.c
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ void arp_out(FAR struct net_driver_s *dev)
   /* Check if we already have this destination address in the ARP table */
 
   ret = arp_find(ipaddr, &ethaddr);
-  if (ret >= 0)
+  if (ret < 0)
     {
       ninfo("ARP request for IP %08lx\n", (unsigned long)ipaddr);