--- hosts_access.c.orig
+++ hosts_access.c
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ static char sep[] = ", \t\r\n";
 
 #define	YES		1
 #define	NO		0
+#define	ERR		-1
 
  /*
   * These variables are globally visible so that they can be redirected in
@@ -125,7 +126,6 @@ int     hosts_access(request)
 struct request_info *request;
 {
     int     verdict;
-
     /*
      * If the (daemon, client) pair is matched by an entry in the file
      * /etc/hosts.allow, access is granted. Otherwise, if the (daemon,
@@ -148,9 +148,9 @@ struct request_info *request;
 	return (verdict == AC_PERMIT);
     if (table_match(hosts_allow_table, request) == YES)
 	return (YES);
-    if (table_match(hosts_deny_table, request))
-	return (NO);
-    return (YES);
+    if (table_match(hosts_deny_table, request) == NO)
+	return (YES);
+    return (NO);
 }
 
 /* table_match - match table entries with (daemon, client) pair */
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ struct request_info *request;
 	(void) fclose(fp);
     } else if (errno != ENOENT) {
 	tcpd_warn("cannot open %s: %m", table);
+	match = ERR;
     }
     if (match == YES) {
 	if (hosts_access_verbose > 1)