diff --git a/bin/9l b/bin/9l
index 5af9a728..087cda3d 100755
--- a/bin/9l
+++ b/bin/9l
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ then
 	echo $ld -L$PLAN9/lib "$@" $libsl $extralibs
 fi
 if ! $ld -L$PLAN9/lib "$@" $libsl $extralibs
-do
+then
 	rm -f $target
 	exit 1
-done
+fi
 exit 0