diff --git a/usr.sbin/moused/moused.c b/usr.sbin/moused/moused.c
index 0e278c472ed..bf0767b1e18 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/moused/moused.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/moused/moused.c
@@ -2986,7 +2986,7 @@ pnpgets(char *buf)
 connect_idle:
 
     /* we may still have something in the buffer */
-    return ((i > 0) ? i : 0);
+    return (MAX(i, 0));
 }
 
 static int