diff --git a/entry.c b/entry.c
index 00b4903366..449bd32dee 100644
--- a/entry.c
+++ b/entry.c
@@ -113,8 +113,7 @@ static int fstat_output(int fd, const struct checkout *state, struct stat *st)
 	/* use fstat() only when path == ce->name */
 	if (fstat_is_reliable() &&
 	    state->refresh_cache && !state->base_dir_len) {
-		fstat(fd, st);
-		return 1;
+		return !fstat(fd, st);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }