diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/ubd_kern.c b/arch/um/drivers/ubd_kern.c
index eca45ad2166c..eae8c83364f7 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/ubd_kern.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/ubd_kern.c
@@ -1592,11 +1592,11 @@ int io_thread(void *arg)
 			&io_remainder_size,
 			UBD_REQ_BUFFER_SIZE
 		);
-		if (n < 0) {
-			if (n == -EAGAIN) {
+		if (n <= 0) {
+			if (n == -EAGAIN)
 				ubd_read_poll(-1);
-				continue;
-			}
+
+			continue;
 		}
 
 		for (count = 0; count < n/sizeof(struct io_thread_req *); count++) {