diff --git a/sway/commands/seat/attach.c b/sway/commands/seat/attach.c
index 7615eef9b..00bfdab69 100644
--- a/sway/commands/seat/attach.c
+++ b/sway/commands/seat/attach.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ struct cmd_results *seat_cmd_attach(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if (!config->handler_context.seat_config) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No seat defined");
 	}
-	if (config->reading) {
+	if (!config->active) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_DEFER, NULL);
 	}