diff --git a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
index 9ce7ac0b6..e6f4152b6 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
@@ -2489,8 +2489,8 @@ void MeshForwarder::LogIp6Message(MessageAction aAction, const Message &aMessage
         (aError == OT_ERROR_NONE) ? "" : ", error:",
         (aError == OT_ERROR_NONE) ? "" : otThreadErrorToString(aError),
         priorityText,
-        shouldLogRss ? "" : ", rss:",
-        shouldLogRss ? "" : aMessage.GetRssAverager().ToString(rssString, sizeof(rssString))
+        shouldLogRss ? ", rss:" : "",
+        shouldLogRss ? aMessage.GetRssAverager().ToString(rssString, sizeof(rssString)) : ""
     );
 
     if (shouldLogSrcDstAddresses)