diff --git a/src/journal/journal-verify.c b/src/journal/journal-verify.c
index dc6b21b1e9..4d35168591 100644
--- a/src/journal/journal-verify.c
+++ b/src/journal/journal-verify.c
@@ -1245,7 +1245,7 @@ int journal_file_verify(
         }
 
         if (entry_monotonic_set &&
-            (!sd_id128_equal(entry_boot_id, f->header->boot_id) ||
+            (sd_id128_equal(entry_boot_id, f->header->boot_id) &&
              entry_monotonic != le64toh(f->header->tail_entry_monotonic))) {
                 error(0, "Invalid tail monotonic timestamp");
                 r = -EBADMSG;