diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/vm/protection_keys.c b/tools/testing/selftests/vm/protection_keys.c
index bed9d4de12b4..4b1ddb526228 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/vm/protection_keys.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/vm/protection_keys.c
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ void pkey_disable_clear(int pkey, int flags)
 			pkey, pkey, pkey_rights);
 	pkey_assert(pkey_rights >= 0);
 
-	pkey_rights |= flags;
+	pkey_rights &= ~flags;
 
 	ret = hw_pkey_set(pkey, pkey_rights, 0);
 	shadow_pkey_reg = set_pkey_bits(shadow_pkey_reg, pkey, pkey_rights);
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ void pkey_disable_clear(int pkey, int flags)
 	dprintf1("%s(%d) pkey_reg: 0x%016llx\n", __func__,
 			pkey, read_pkey_reg());
 	if (flags)
-		assert(read_pkey_reg() > orig_pkey_reg);
+		assert(read_pkey_reg() < orig_pkey_reg);
 }
 
 void pkey_write_allow(int pkey)