diff --git a/src/H5FDonion.c b/src/H5FDonion.c
index 7c1c8cd3e54..f60d786c0f7 100644
--- a/src/H5FDonion.c
+++ b/src/H5FDonion.c
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ H5Pset_fapl_onion(hid_t fapl_id, const H5FD_onion_fapl_info_t *fa)
             HGOTO_ERROR(H5E_VFL, H5E_BADVALUE, FAIL, "invalid backing fapl id");
     }
     else {
-        if (NULL == (backing_fapl = H5P_object_verify(fa->backing_fapl_id, H5P_FILE_ACCESS, false)))
+        if (NULL == (backing_fapl = H5P_object_verify(fa->backing_fapl_id, H5P_FILE_ACCESS, true)))
             HGOTO_ERROR(H5E_VFL, H5E_BADVALUE, FAIL, "invalid backing fapl id");
     }