diff --git a/src/topten.c b/src/topten.c
index d86fdcc7e..6877e55db 100644
--- a/src/topten.c
+++ b/src/topten.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ formatkiller(
     }
     *buf = '\0';
 
-    if (incl_helpless && gm.multi) {
+    if (incl_helpless && gm.multi < 0) {
         /* X <= siz: 'sizeof "string"' includes 1 for '\0' terminator */
         if (gm.multi_reason
             && strlen(gm.multi_reason) + sizeof ", while " <= siz)
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ writexlentry(FILE *rfile, struct toptenentry *tt, int how)
     Fprintf(rfile, "%s%cname=%s%cdeath=%s",
             buf, /* (already includes separator) */
             XLOG_SEP, gp.plname, XLOG_SEP, tmpbuf);
-    if (gm.multi)
+    if (gm.multi < 0)
         Fprintf(rfile, "%cwhile=%s", XLOG_SEP,
                 gm.multi_reason ? gm.multi_reason : "helpless");
     Fprintf(rfile, "%cconduct=0x%lx%cturns=%ld%cachieve=0x%lx", XLOG_SEP,