diff --git a/include/toplevel.mk b/include/toplevel.mk
index 3844f3cfc14..e13acafe9c7 100644
--- a/include/toplevel.mk
+++ b/include/toplevel.mk
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ config-clean: FORCE
 
 defconfig: scripts/config/conf prepare-tmpinfo FORCE
 	touch .config
-	@if [  -s .config -a -e $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig ]; then cp $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig .config; fi
+	@if [ ! -s .config -a -e $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig ]; then cp $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig .config; fi
 	$< --defconfig=.config Config.in
 
 confdefault-y=allyes