diff --git a/src/ipc_connecter.cpp b/src/ipc_connecter.cpp
index 48e06f53..0bd03d58 100644
--- a/src/ipc_connecter.cpp
+++ b/src/ipc_connecter.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int zmq::ipc_connecter_t::open ()
 
     //  Create the socket.
     _s = open_socket (AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-    if (_s == -1)
+    if (_s == retired_fd)
         return -1;
 
     //  Set the non-blocking flag.
diff --git a/src/tipc_connecter.cpp b/src/tipc_connecter.cpp
index f27d4657..6057997f 100644
--- a/src/tipc_connecter.cpp
+++ b/src/tipc_connecter.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ int zmq::tipc_connecter_t::open ()
     }
     //  Create the socket.
     _s = open_socket (AF_TIPC, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-    if (_s == -1)
+    if (_s == retired_fd)
         return -1;
 
     //  Set the non-blocking flag.
diff --git a/src/tipc_listener.cpp b/src/tipc_listener.cpp
index a13c16bd..338327bc 100644
--- a/src/tipc_listener.cpp
+++ b/src/tipc_listener.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ int zmq::tipc_listener_t::set_local_address (const char *addr_)
 
     //  Create a listening socket.
     _s = open_socket (AF_TIPC, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-    if (_s == -1)
+    if (_s == retired_fd)
         return -1;
 
     // If random Port Identity, update address object to reflect the assigned address