diff --git a/lisp/nnimap.el b/lisp/nnimap.el
index 8ea5063..7568807 100644
--- a/lisp/nnimap.el
+++ b/lisp/nnimap.el
@@ -1181,7 +1181,8 @@ textual parts.")
 	      (setq marks (gnus-info-marks info))
 	      (dolist (type (cdr nnimap-mark-alist))
 		(when (or (not (listp permanent-flags))
-			  (memq (assoc (caddr type) flags) permanent-flags)
+			  (memq (car (assoc (caddr type) flags))
+				permanent-flags)
 			  (memq '%* permanent-flags))
 		  (let ((old-marks (assoc (car type) marks))
 			(new-marks