diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/column_reader_test.cc b/cpp/src/parquet/column_reader_test.cc
index 2cb6aaa04d5..b3b75a7bb58 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/column_reader_test.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/column_reader_test.cc
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class RecordReaderPrimitiveTypeTest
       }
     }
 
-    if (descr_->schema_node()->is_required()) {
+    if (!descr_->schema_node()->is_required()) {
       std::vector<int16_t> read_defs(
           record_reader_->def_levels(),
           record_reader_->def_levels() + record_reader_->levels_position());