diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c b/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
index 2ee48c377b66..a69d8acbf274 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ int conf_read(const char *name)
 		for (e = prop->expr; e; e = e->left.expr)
 			if (e->right.sym->visible != no)
 				flags &= e->right.sym->flags;
-		sym->flags |= flags & SYMBOL_DEF_USER;
+		sym->flags &= flags | ~SYMBOL_DEF_USER;
 	}
 
 	sym_change_count += conf_warnings || conf_unsaved;