diff --git a/hbs2-storage-ncq/lib/HBS2/Storage/NCQ3/Internal/Fossil.hs b/hbs2-storage-ncq/lib/HBS2/Storage/NCQ3/Internal/Fossil.hs
index f72cc5fe..30a5590f 100644
--- a/hbs2-storage-ncq/lib/HBS2/Storage/NCQ3/Internal/Fossil.hs
+++ b/hbs2-storage-ncq/lib/HBS2/Storage/NCQ3/Internal/Fossil.hs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ ncqFossilMergeStep me@NCQStorage3{..}  = withSem ncqServiceSem $ flip runContT p
       let fik = coerce fi
       writeFiltered me (ncqGetFileName me fi) fd $ \_ _ k _ -> do
         ncqLocate_ False me k >>= \case
-          Nothing  -> pure True
+          Nothing  -> pure False
           Just (InMemory{}) -> pure False
           Just (InFossil fk _ _) -> do
             let beWritten = fik >= fk