diff --git a/llarp/vpn/linux.hpp b/llarp/vpn/linux.hpp
index 5fc06d674..9dcf9b761 100644
--- a/llarp/vpn/linux.hpp
+++ b/llarp/vpn/linux.hpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ namespace llarp::vpn
       std::vector<byte_t> pkt;
       pkt.resize(net::IPPacket::MaxSize);
       const auto sz = read(m_fd, pkt.data(), pkt.capacity());
-      if (errno)
+      if (sz < 0)
       {
         if (errno == EAGAIN or errno == EWOULDBLOCK)
         {