diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4711483..d014c99 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void persistence_example(void) {
     JSON_Value *user_data = json_parse_file("user_data.json");
     char buf[256];
     const char *name = NULL;
-    if (!user_data || !json_validate(schema, user_data) == JSONSuccess) {
+    if (user_data == NULL || json_validate(schema, user_data) != JSONSuccess) {
         puts("Enter your name:");
         scanf("%s", buf);
         user_data = json_value_init_object();
diff --git a/tests.c b/tests.c
index b00566c..fa4bce6 100644
--- a/tests.c
+++ b/tests.c
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ void persistence_example(void) {
     JSON_Value *user_data = json_parse_file("user_data.json");
     char buf[256];
     const char *name = NULL;
-    if (!user_data || json_validate(schema, user_data) == JSONSuccess) {
+    if (user_data == NULL || json_validate(schema, user_data) != JSONSuccess) {
         puts("Enter your name:");
         scanf("%s", buf);
         user_data = json_value_init_object();