diff --git a/layouts/partials/footer.html b/layouts/partials/footer.html
index 50244b2b..d8042efb 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/footer.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/footer.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
   {{ if eq .Type "page" }}
     {{ partial "page_meta.html" . }}
   {{ end }}
-  {{- if not (.Site.Params.author) and (.Site.author) -}}
+  {{- if and (not .Site.Params.author) .Site.author -}}
      {{ errorf "Please move [author] to [params.author]; Hugo has deprecated the former." }}
   {{- end -}}
 <footer>