diff --git a/src/journal-remote/journal-remote-parse.c b/src/journal-remote/journal-remote-parse.c
index 3864647eb7..9ba9ee3fc0 100644
--- a/src/journal-remote/journal-remote-parse.c
+++ b/src/journal-remote/journal-remote-parse.c
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ int process_source(RemoteSource *source, bool compress, bool seal) {
         }
 
         target = source->size;
-        while (target > 16 * LINE_CHUNK && remain < target / 2)
+        while (target > 16 * LINE_CHUNK && source->filled < target / 2)
                 target /= 2;
         if (target < source->size) {
                 char *tmp;