diff --git a/src/Task.cpp b/src/Task.cpp
index 82765b813..6b4e787fe 100644
--- a/src/Task.cpp
+++ b/src/Task.cpp
@@ -647,8 +647,8 @@ void Task::validate () const
     if (has ("wait"))
     {
       Date wait (::atoi (get ("wait").c_str ()));
-      if (wait < due)
-        throw std::string ("A 'wait' date must be after a 'due' date.");
+      if (wait > due)
+        throw std::string ("A 'wait' date must be before a 'due' date.");
     }
 
     Date entry (::atoi (get ("entry").c_str ()));