diff --git a/PWGDQ/Tasks/dqEfficiency_withAssoc.cxx b/PWGDQ/Tasks/dqEfficiency_withAssoc.cxx
index cfdce3fbf90..2cda1a7d417 100644
--- a/PWGDQ/Tasks/dqEfficiency_withAssoc.cxx
+++ b/PWGDQ/Tasks/dqEfficiency_withAssoc.cxx
@@ -1592,9 +1592,9 @@ struct AnalysisSameEventPairing {
           }
           auto t1 = a1.template reducedmuon_as<TTracks>();
           auto t2 = a2.template reducedmuon_as<TTracks>();
-          if (t1.matchMCHTrackId() == t2.matchMCHTrackId())
+          if (t1.matchMCHTrackId() == t2.matchMCHTrackId() && t1.matchMCHTrackId() >= 0)
             continue;
-          if (t1.matchMFTTrackId() == t2.matchMFTTrackId())
+          if (t1.matchMFTTrackId() == t2.matchMFTTrackId() && t1.matchMFTTrackId() >= 0)
             continue;
           sign1 = t1.sign();
           sign2 = t2.sign();