diff --git a/XD.c b/XD.c
index 7d1bc03..a76909b 100644
--- a/XD.c
+++ b/XD.c
@@ -188,7 +188,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
   #endif
 
   /* get exit code from user args */
-  code = atoi(argv[1] ? argv[1] : "-1");
+  if (argv[1]) {
+    code = atoi(argv[1]);
+  }
 
   /* change mouth based on exit code */
   if (code >= 0) {