diff --git a/src/common/compat.c b/src/common/compat.c
index 281b8ae6f0..689c7eaed4 100644
--- a/src/common/compat.c
+++ b/src/common/compat.c
@@ -450,8 +450,8 @@ set_max_file_descriptors(unsigned long limit, unsigned long cap)
 #ifndef HAVE_GETRLIMIT
   log_fn(LOG_INFO, LD_NET,
          "This platform is missing getrlimit(). Proceeding.");
-  if (limit > cap) {
-    log(LOG_INFO, LD_CONFIG, "ConnLimit must be at most %d. Capping it.", cap);
+  if (limit < cap) {
+    log(LOG_INFO, LD_CONFIG, "ConnLimit must be at most %d. Using that.", cap);
     limit = cap;
   }
 #else