diff --git a/pxr/usd/usd/primDefinition.cpp b/pxr/usd/usd/primDefinition.cpp
index ce52c2ccb1..6d03752016 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/usd/primDefinition.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/usd/primDefinition.cpp
@@ -405,8 +405,8 @@ UsdPrimDefinition::_FindOrCreateSpecForComposition(
     // we create a new layer for this prim definition to write its composed
     // properties and metadata.
     if (_composedPropertyLayer) {
-        if (destSpec = _composedPropertyLayer->GetObjectAtPath(
-                primPath.AppendProperty(propName))) {
+        if ((destSpec = _composedPropertyLayer->GetObjectAtPath(
+                primPath.AppendProperty(propName)))) {
             return destSpec;
         }
     } else {