diff --git a/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c b/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c
index 06e4a16a44..8db6ddb778 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c
@@ -458,11 +458,9 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
             opt.psk_identity = q;
         else if( strcmp( p, "force_ciphersuite" ) == 0 )
         {
-            opt.force_ciphersuite[0] = -1;
-
             opt.force_ciphersuite[0] = ssl_get_ciphersuite_id( q );
 
-            if( opt.force_ciphersuite[0] <= 0 )
+            if( opt.force_ciphersuite[0] == 0 )
             {
                 ret = 2;
                 goto usage;
diff --git a/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c b/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c
index 8af5f64298..9f53ad2873 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c
@@ -736,11 +736,9 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
             opt.psk_list = q;
         else if( strcmp( p, "force_ciphersuite" ) == 0 )
         {
-            opt.force_ciphersuite[0] = -1;
-
             opt.force_ciphersuite[0] = ssl_get_ciphersuite_id( q );
 
-            if( opt.force_ciphersuite[0] <= 0 )
+            if( opt.force_ciphersuite[0] == 0 )
             {
                 ret = 2;
                 goto usage;