diff --git a/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c b/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
index 9cf984a9a1c..f51d1eeb3c8 100644
--- a/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
+++ b/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static int nxmq_file_close(FAR struct file *filep)
 {
   FAR struct inode *inode = filep->f_inode;
 
-  if (atomic_read(&inode->i_crefs) <= 0)
+  if (atomic_read(&inode->i_crefs) <= 1)
     {
       FAR struct mqueue_inode_s *msgq = inode->i_private;