diff --git a/linux-user/syscall.c b/linux-user/syscall.c
index f64024273f..e1436a3962 100644
--- a/linux-user/syscall.c
+++ b/linux-user/syscall.c
@@ -820,14 +820,14 @@ abi_long do_brk(abi_ulong brk_val)
 
     /* brk pointers are always untagged */
 
-    /* return old brk value if brk_val unchanged or zero */
-    if (!brk_val || brk_val == target_brk) {
+    /* return old brk value if brk_val unchanged */
+    if (brk_val == target_brk) {
         return target_brk;
     }
 
     /* do not allow to shrink below initial brk value */
     if (brk_val < initial_target_brk) {
-        brk_val = initial_target_brk;
+        return target_brk;
     }
 
     new_brk = TARGET_PAGE_ALIGN(brk_val);