diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index 01c6cb85f..9292bd6c6 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ namespace llarp
       size_t connected = NumberOfConnectedRouters();
       if(connected < minConnectedRouters)
       {
-        size_t dlt = connected - minConnectedRouters;
+        size_t dlt = minConnectedRouters - connected;
         LogInfo("connecting to ", dlt, " random routers to keep alive");
         ConnectToRandomRouters(dlt);
       }