diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@
         // initialization/shutdown thread. This is acceptable because this
         // function only contains steps that are quick to execute, so the GUI
         // thread won't be held up.
-        if (BitcoinABC::baseInitialize(config, rpcServer)) {
+        if (!BitcoinABC::baseInitialize(config, rpcServer)) {
             // A dialog with detailed error will have been shown by InitError()
             return EXIT_FAILURE;
         }