diff --git a/tools/test/stress2/misc/tmpfs22.sh b/tools/test/stress2/misc/tmpfs22.sh
index 36d2cc59dabd..4439ad1bf1d5 100755
--- a/tools/test/stress2/misc/tmpfs22.sh
+++ b/tools/test/stress2/misc/tmpfs22.sh
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ main(void)
 	if (fstat(fd, &st2) == -1)
 		err(1, "fstat 2");
 	s = 0;
-	if (st1.st_mtime != st2.st_mtime) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "mtime differs: %ld %ld\n",
+	if (st1.st_mtime == st2.st_mtime) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "mtime is unchanged: %ld %ld\n",
 		    (long)st1.st_mtime, (long)st2.st_mtime);
 		s=1;
 	}