diff --git a/messaging/msgq.cc b/messaging/msgq.cc
index 502f0695584312..0c17b265725ad6 100644
--- a/messaging/msgq.cc
+++ b/messaging/msgq.cc
@@ -460,5 +460,5 @@ bool msgq_all_readers_updated(msgq_queue_t *q) {
       return false;
     }
   }
-  return true;
+  return num_readers > 0;
 }