diff --git a/monitor/hmp-cmds.c b/monitor/hmp-cmds.c
index e00255f7ee..a7e197a90b 100644
--- a/monitor/hmp-cmds.c
+++ b/monitor/hmp-cmds.c
@@ -1496,7 +1496,7 @@ void hmp_change(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
         }
         if (strcmp(target, "passwd") == 0 ||
             strcmp(target, "password") == 0) {
-            if (arg) {
+            if (!arg) {
                 MonitorHMP *hmp_mon = container_of(mon, MonitorHMP, common);
                 monitor_read_password(hmp_mon, hmp_change_read_arg, NULL);
                 return;