diff --git a/lib/plist.c b/lib/plist.c
index b1a5cd79..b447bda2 100644
--- a/lib/plist.c
+++ b/lib/plist.c
@@ -111,10 +111,12 @@ xbps_array_foreach_cb_multi(struct xbps_handle *xhp,
 	if (xbps_object_type(array) != XBPS_TYPE_ARRAY)
 		return 0;
 
-	arraycount = xbps_array_count(array);
-	if (arraycount == 0)
+	if (!xbps_array_count(array))
 		return 0;
 
+	/* - 1 because there's a private dict used internally */
+	arraycount = xbps_array_count(array) - 1;
+
 	maxthreads = (int)sysconf(_SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN);
 	if (maxthreads <= 1 || arraycount <= 1) /* use single threaded routine */
 		return xbps_array_foreach_cb(xhp, array, dict, fn, arg);