diff --git a/lib/efi_loader/efi_variable.c b/lib/efi_loader/efi_variable.c
index 4c554c5..d0daf7b 100644
--- a/lib/efi_loader/efi_variable.c
+++ b/lib/efi_loader/efi_variable.c
@@ -478,10 +478,12 @@
 			old_size = 0;
 		}
 	} else {
-		if ((data_size == 0 &&
-		     !(attributes & EFI_VARIABLE_APPEND_WRITE)) ||
-		    !attributes) {
-			/* delete, but nothing to do */
+		if (data_size == 0 || !attributes ||
+		    (attributes & EFI_VARIABLE_APPEND_WRITE)) {
+			/*
+			 * Trying to delete or to update a non-existent
+			 * variable.
+			 */
 			ret = EFI_NOT_FOUND;
 			goto out;
 		}