diff --git a/lisp/net/rcirc.el b/lisp/net/rcirc.el
index abe4cfb0b30..50ddb6ca050 100644
--- a/lisp/net/rcirc.el
+++ b/lisp/net/rcirc.el
@@ -1767,7 +1767,7 @@ connection."
               (goto-char (or (previous-single-property-change (point) 'hard)
                              (point-min)))
               (when (let ((then (get-text-property (point) 'rcirc-time)))
-                      (and then (time-less-p then time)))
+                      (and then (not (time-less-p time then))))
                 (next-single-property-change (point) 'hard)
                 (forward-char 1)
                 (throw 'exit nil))))