diff --git a/file.c b/file.c
index bf854d4df0..5b7f96c6fe 100644
--- a/file.c
+++ b/file.c
@@ -2144,7 +2144,7 @@ rb_file_sticky_p(VALUE obj, VALUE fname)
 #ifdef S_ISVTX
     return check3rdbyte(fname, S_ISVTX);
 #else
-    return Qnil;
+    return Qfalse;
 #endif
 }