diff --git a/hack/validate-lint.sh b/hack/validate-lint.sh
index d3dc7d11..e1e339b2 100755
--- a/hack/validate-lint.sh
+++ b/hack/validate-lint.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 errors=$($GOBIN/golangci-lint run --build-tags "${BUILDTAGS}" 2>&1)
 
-if [ -z "$errors" ]; then
+if [ "$?" -eq 0 ]; then
 	echo 'Congratulations!  All Go source files have been linted.'
 else
 	{