diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/colors.c b/sway/commands/bar/colors.c
index f8792973..8b3b0aac 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/colors.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/colors.c
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ static struct cmd_results *parse_three_colors(char ***colors, const char *cmd_na
 	for (i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
 		if (!*colors[i]) {
 			*(colors[i]) = malloc(10);
-		if (!*(colors[i])) {
-			return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, cmd_name, "Unable to allocate color");
-		}
+			if (!*(colors[i])) {
+				return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, cmd_name, "Unable to allocate color");
+			}
 		}
 		error = add_color(cmd_name, *(colors[i]), argv[i]);
 		if (error) {