diff --git a/hashcash.go b/hashcash.go
index b80b367..0e12c82 100644
--- a/hashcash.go
+++ b/hashcash.go
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ func (h *Hashcash) Verify(subject string) error {
 }
 
 func verifyBits(hash []byte, bits, n int) bool {
+	if 0 == bits {
+		return true
+	}
+
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		if bits > 8 {
 			bits -= 8
@@ -227,15 +231,12 @@ func verifyBits(hash []byte, bits, n int) bool {
 
 		// (bits % 8) == bits
 		pad := 8 - bits
-		if 0 != hash[i]>>pad {
-			return false
+		if 0 == hash[i]>>pad {
+			return true
 		}
-
-		return true
 	}
 
-	// 0 == bits
-	return true
+	return false
 }
 
 // Solve will search for a solution, returning an error if the difficulty is