diff --git a/apps/dsa.c b/apps/dsa.c
index 9f38e2b77..1109346f7 100644
--- a/apps/dsa.c
+++ b/apps/dsa.c
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ bad:
 		BIO_printf(bio_err,"bad output format specified for outfile\n");
 		goto end;
 		}
-	if (!i)
+	if (i <= 0)
 		{
 		BIO_printf(bio_err,"unable to write private key\n");
 		ERR_print_errors(bio_err);
diff --git a/apps/rsa.c b/apps/rsa.c
index 4a6206bb6..b3c8aff7e 100644
--- a/apps/rsa.c
+++ b/apps/rsa.c
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ bad:
 		BIO_printf(bio_err,"bad output format specified for outfile\n");
 		goto end;
 		}
-	if (!i)
+	if (i <= 0)
 		{
 		BIO_printf(bio_err,"unable to write key\n");
 		ERR_print_errors(bio_err);