diff -up ./filename.c.return-non-zero ./filename.c
--- ./filename.c.return-non-zero	2013-04-04 18:55:05.000000000 +0200
+++ ./filename.c	2014-06-19 13:10:50.692171380 +0200
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ open_altfile(filename, pf, pfd)
 			 * If only one pipe char, just assume no alt file.
 			 */
 			int status = pclose(fd);
-			if (returnfd > 1 && status == 0) {
+			if (returnfd > 1 && status != 0) {
 				*pfd = NULL;
 				*pf = -1;
 				return (save(FAKE_EMPTYFILE));