diff --git a/specifyweb/frontend/js_src/lib/components/Merging/index.tsx b/specifyweb/frontend/js_src/lib/components/Merging/index.tsx
index e81ccae2f9d..b66e69ad874 100644
--- a/specifyweb/frontend/js_src/lib/components/Merging/index.tsx
+++ b/specifyweb/frontend/js_src/lib/components/Merging/index.tsx
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ function Merging({
               autoMerge(
                 table,
                 initialRecords.current,
-                userPreferences.get(
+                !userPreferences.get(
                   'recordMerging',
                   'behavior',
                   'autoPopulate'