diff --git a/mtce-common/cgts-mtce-common-1.0/maintenance/mtcNodeHdlrs.cpp b/mtce-common/cgts-mtce-common-1.0/maintenance/mtcNodeHdlrs.cpp
index febfb164..a5316f34 100755
--- a/mtce-common/cgts-mtce-common-1.0/maintenance/mtcNodeHdlrs.cpp
+++ b/mtce-common/cgts-mtce-common-1.0/maintenance/mtcNodeHdlrs.cpp
@@ -1926,7 +1926,8 @@ int nodeLinkClass::recovery_handler ( struct nodeLinkClass::node * node_ptr )
                  * the host has not reset yet we have disabled services
                  * then now we need to reset the host to prevet VM duplication
                  * by forcing a full enable */
-                if ( node_ptr->uptime_save & ( node_ptr->uptime >= node_ptr->uptime_save ) )
+                if (( node_ptr->uptime_save != 0 ) &&
+                    ( node_ptr->uptime >= node_ptr->uptime_save ))
                 {
                     ilog ("%s regained MTCALIVE from host that did not reboot (uptime:%d)\n",
                                   node_ptr->hostname.c_str(), node_ptr->uptime );