diff --git a/cde/programs/dtprintinfo/DtPrintinfo.C b/cde/programs/dtprintinfo/DtPrintinfo.C
index 065c8af8f..ac780a08d 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtprintinfo/DtPrintinfo.C
+++ b/cde/programs/dtprintinfo/DtPrintinfo.C
@@ -94,14 +94,18 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
       dtprintinfo_cat = catopen("dtprintinfo", 0);
 #endif
 
-      if ((nl_catd) errno || dtprintinfo_cat == (nl_catd) -1)
-         dtprintinfo_cat = NULL;
+      if ((nl_catd) errno)
+         dtprintinfo_cat = (nl_catd) -1;
 #ifdef hpux
       else
          msg_strings = (char **)calloc(LAST_MSG_NO, sizeof(char *));
 #endif
     }
 
+   if (dtprintinfo_cat == NULL) {
+      dtprintinfo_cat = (nl_catd) -1;
+   }
+
    if (!STRCMP(argv[1], "-help"))
     {
       char *output;