diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem.dm
index 920815cfa11..7e9e23bd45f 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem.dm
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
 		queue_node_flags = queue_node.flags
 
 		if (queue_node_flags & SS_TICKER)
-			if (!(SS_flags & (SS_TICKER|SS_BACKGROUND)) == SS_TICKER)
+			if ((SS_flags & (SS_TICKER|SS_BACKGROUND)) != SS_TICKER)
 				continue
 			if (queue_node_priority < SS_priority)
 				break