diff --git a/hnswlib-core/src/main/java/com/github/jelmerk/knn/hnsw/HnswIndex.java b/hnswlib-core/src/main/java/com/github/jelmerk/knn/hnsw/HnswIndex.java
index cfbe6f10..fe3ddc89 100644
--- a/hnswlib-core/src/main/java/com/github/jelmerk/knn/hnsw/HnswIndex.java
+++ b/hnswlib-core/src/main/java/com/github/jelmerk/knn/hnsw/HnswIndex.java
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ public boolean add(TItem item) {
         IntArrayList[] connections = new IntArrayList[randomLevel + 1];
 
         for (int level = 0; level <= randomLevel; level++) {
-            int levelM = randomLevel == 0 ? maxM0 : maxM;
+            int levelM = level == 0 ? maxM0 : maxM;
             connections[level] = new IntArrayList(levelM);
         }