diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc
@@ -2601,7 +2601,7 @@
 			if (tmpconf == NULL) {
 				log_warnx("configuration error, "
 				    "continuing with old configuration");
-			} else if (new_pports_from_conf(tmpconf, &kports)) {
+			} else if (!new_pports_from_conf(tmpconf, &kports)) {
 				log_warnx("Error associating physical ports, "
 				    "continuing with old configuration");
 				conf_delete(tmpconf);