diff --git a/src/osgUtil/Optimizer.cpp b/src/osgUtil/Optimizer.cpp
index 9a007f037..004ae17fd 100644
--- a/src/osgUtil/Optimizer.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUtil/Optimizer.cpp
@@ -2008,10 +2008,10 @@ bool Optimizer::MergeGeometryVisitor::mergeGeode(osg::Geode& geode)
             unsigned int numVertices(duplicateList.front()->getVertexArray() ? duplicateList.front()->getVertexArray()->getNumElements() : 0);
             DuplicateList::iterator eachGeom(duplicateList.begin()+1);
             // until all geometries have been checked or _targetMaximumNumberOfVertices is reached
-            for (;eachGeom!=duplicateList.end(); ++eachGeom)
+            for(;eachGeom!=duplicateList.end(); ++eachGeom)
             {
                 unsigned int numAddVertices((*eachGeom)->getVertexArray() ? (*eachGeom)->getVertexArray()->getNumElements() : 0);
-                if (numVertices+numAddVertices<_targetMaximumNumberOfVertices)
+                if ((numVertices+numAddVertices)>_targetMaximumNumberOfVertices)
                 {
                     break;
                 }