diff --git a/src/pow.cpp b/src/pow.cpp
index 730cfce2b..fc5d8b3fc 100644
--- a/src/pow.cpp
+++ b/src/pow.cpp
@@ -124,12 +124,12 @@ bool CheckProofOfWork(int32_t height,uint8_t *pubkey33,uint256 hash, unsigned in
         //fprintf(stderr," height.%d special.%d nonz.%d\n",height,special,nonz);
         if ( nonz == 0 )
             return(true);
-        if ( special < 0 ) // special notary id == (height % numnotaries)
+        if ( special > 0 ) // special notary id == (height % numnotaries)
         {
             if (UintToArith256(hash) <= bnTarget) // accept normal diff
                 return true;
             bnTarget.SetCompact(KOMODO_MINDIFF_NBITS,&fNegative,&fOverflow);
-        } else bnTarget /= 8;
+        } //else bnTarget /= 8;
     }
     // Check range
     if (fNegative || bnTarget == 0 || fOverflow || bnTarget > UintToArith256(params.powLimit))