diff --git a/xdiff/xprepare.c b/xdiff/xprepare.c
index 7141dbc058..ddd0577676 100644
--- a/xdiff/xprepare.c
+++ b/xdiff/xprepare.c
@@ -302,7 +302,12 @@ static int xdl_cleanup_records(xdlclassifier_t *cf, xdfile_t *xdf1, xdfile_t *xd
 		size_t mph1 = xdf1->recs[i].minimal_perfect_hash;
 		rcrec = cf->rcrecs[mph1];
 		nm = rcrec ? rcrec->len2 : 0;
-		action1[i] = (nm == 0) ? DISCARD: nm >= mlim1 ? INVESTIGATE: KEEP;
+		if (nm == 0)
+			action1[i] = DISCARD;
+		else if (nm < mlim1)
+			action1[i] = KEEP;
+		else /* nm >= mlim1 */
+			action1[i] = INVESTIGATE;
 	}
 
 	if (need_min) {
@@ -317,7 +322,12 @@ static int xdl_cleanup_records(xdlclassifier_t *cf, xdfile_t *xdf1, xdfile_t *xd
 		size_t mph2 = xdf2->recs[i].minimal_perfect_hash;
 		rcrec = cf->rcrecs[mph2];
 		nm = rcrec ? rcrec->len1 : 0;
-		action2[i] = (nm == 0) ? DISCARD: nm >= mlim2 ? INVESTIGATE: KEEP;
+		if (nm == 0)
+			action2[i] = DISCARD;
+		else if (nm < mlim2)
+			action2[i] = KEEP;
+		else /* nm >= mlim2 */
+			action2[i] = INVESTIGATE;
 	}
 
 	/*