diff --git a/src/udev/udevadm-control.c b/src/udev/udevadm-control.c
index 90b9b39e22..64615f5453 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevadm-control.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevadm-control.c
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ int control_main(int argc, char *argv[], void *userdata) {
         }
 
         if (arg_log_level >= 0) {
-                r = udev_ctrl_send_set_log_level(uctrl, r);
+                r = udev_ctrl_send_set_log_level(uctrl, arg_log_level);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to send request to set log level: %m");
         }
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ int control_main(int argc, char *argv[], void *userdata) {
                         return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to send request to update environment: %m");
         }
 
-        if (arg_max_children) {
+        if (arg_max_children >= 0) {
                 r = udev_ctrl_send_set_children_max(uctrl, arg_max_children);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to send request to set number of children: %m");