diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index e0b23bddcc5..a7a97836d87 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ PHP                                                                        NEWS
 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 ?? ??? ????, PHP 8.4.12
 
-
+- OpenSSL:
+  . Fixed bug GH-18986 (OpenSSL backend: incorrect RAND_{load,write}_file()
+    return value check). (nielsdos, botovq)
 
 31 Jul 2025, PHP 8.4.11
 
diff --git a/ext/openssl/openssl.c b/ext/openssl/openssl.c
index 8a0d58d2511..ffbe85064d2 100644
--- a/ext/openssl/openssl.c
+++ b/ext/openssl/openssl.c
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ static int php_openssl_load_rand_file(const char * file, int *egdsocket, int *se
 		return SUCCESS;
 #endif
 	}
-	if (file == NULL || !RAND_load_file(file, -1)) {
+	if (file == NULL || RAND_load_file(file, -1) < 0) {
 		if (RAND_status() == 0) {
 			php_openssl_store_errors();
 			php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "Unable to load random state; not enough random data!");
@@ -1140,7 +1140,7 @@ static int php_openssl_write_rand_file(const char * file, int egdsocket, int see
 		file = RAND_file_name(buffer, sizeof(buffer));
 	}
 	PHP_OPENSSL_RAND_ADD_TIME();
-	if (file == NULL || !RAND_write_file(file)) {
+	if (file == NULL || RAND_write_file(file) < 0) {
 		php_openssl_store_errors();
 		php_error_docref(NULL, E_WARNING, "Unable to write random state");
 		return FAILURE;