diff --git a/app/paint/gimpheal.c b/app/paint/gimpheal.c
index da38b3b991..68b2ba19ff 100644
--- a/app/paint/gimpheal.c
+++ b/app/paint/gimpheal.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ gimp_heal_laplace_iteration (gdouble *matrix,
       off0 =  i * rowstride;
       offm0 = i * width;
 
-      for (j = (i % 2) + 1; j < width; j += 2)
+      for (j = (i % 2) ? 0 : 1; j < width; j += 2)
         {
           off = off0 + j * depth;
           offm = offm0 + j;