diff --git a/usr.bin/sed/process.c b/usr.bin/sed/process.c
index b70a492349ad..33eea13bac5f 100644
--- a/usr.bin/sed/process.c
+++ b/usr.bin/sed/process.c
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ substitute(struct s_command *cp)
 	    regexec_e(re, ps, REG_NOTBOL, 0, le, psl));
 
 	/* Did not find the requested number of matches. */
-	if (n > 1)
+	if (n > 0)
 		return (0);
 
 	/* Copy the trailing retained string. */