diff --git a/src/aof.c b/src/aof.c
index 3682c4568..8ab9349f0 100644
--- a/src/aof.c
+++ b/src/aof.c
@@ -1798,14 +1798,15 @@ void backgroundRewriteDoneHandler(int exitcode, int bysignal) {
         serverLog(LL_VERBOSE,
             "Background AOF rewrite signal handler took %lldus", ustime()-now);
     } else if (!bysignal && exitcode != 0) {
+        server.aof_lastbgrewrite_status = C_ERR;
+
+        serverLog(LL_WARNING,
+            "Background AOF rewrite terminated with error");
+    } else {
         /* SIGUSR1 is whitelisted, so we have a way to kill a child without
          * tirggering an error condition. */
         if (bysignal != SIGUSR1)
             server.aof_lastbgrewrite_status = C_ERR;
-        serverLog(LL_WARNING,
-            "Background AOF rewrite terminated with error");
-    } else {
-        server.aof_lastbgrewrite_status = C_ERR;
 
         serverLog(LL_WARNING,
             "Background AOF rewrite terminated by signal %d", bysignal);