diff --git a/modules/juce_core/maths/juce_BigInteger.cpp b/modules/juce_core/maths/juce_BigInteger.cpp
index 609b69d1e8..9d336d2f12 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/maths/juce_BigInteger.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/maths/juce_BigInteger.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ int64 BigInteger::toInt64() const noexcept
 BigInteger BigInteger::getBitRange (int startBit, int numBits) const
 {
     BigInteger r;
-    numBits = jmin (numBits, getHighestBit() + 1 - startBit);
+    numBits = jmax (0, jmin (numBits, getHighestBit() + 1 - startBit));
     auto* destValues = r.ensureSize (sizeNeededToHold (numBits));
     r.highestBit = numBits;