diff --git a/dwmblocks.c b/dwmblocks.c
index d592a5b..744426c 100644
--- a/dwmblocks.c
+++ b/dwmblocks.c
@@ -326,8 +326,7 @@ writepid()
         int fd;
         struct flock fl;
 
-        fd = open(LOCKFILE, O_RDWR | O_CREAT, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR | S_IRGRP | S_IROTH);
-        if (fd == -1) {
+        if ((fd = open(LOCKFILE, O_RDWR | O_CREAT, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR | S_IRGRP | S_IROTH)) == -1) {
                 perror("writepid - open");
                 exit(1);
         }
diff --git a/sigdwmblocks.c b/sigdwmblocks.c
index 7739b49..0daab5f 100644
--- a/sigdwmblocks.c
+++ b/sigdwmblocks.c
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ sendsignal(int sig, union sigval sv)
         int fd;
         struct flock fl;
 
-        fd = open(LOCKFILE, O_RDONLY);
-        if (fd == -1) {
+        if ((fd = open(LOCKFILE, O_RDONLY)) == -1) {
                 if (errno == ENOENT) {
                         fputs("Error: no running instance of dwmblocks.\n", stderr);
                         exit(3);