diff --git a/lib/backend.py b/lib/backend.py
index cbaea3fa5e8ba04db2931fc1b3a232647f38014c..fcf6da13b9d7b5137dd87c974806d1f1e8615500 100644
--- a/lib/backend.py
+++ b/lib/backend.py
@@ -2657,7 +2657,7 @@ def StartImportExportDaemon(mode, key_name, ca, host, port, instance,
     assert ca is not None
 
   for i in [key_path, cert_path]:
-    if os.path.exists(i):
+    if not os.path.exists(i):
       _Fail("File '%s' does not exist" % i)
 
   status_dir = _CreateImportExportStatusDir(prefix)