diff --git a/src/or/connection.c b/src/or/connection.c
index 8df204ff7f..459542e32c 100644
--- a/src/or/connection.c
+++ b/src/or/connection.c
@@ -729,6 +729,8 @@ static int connection_bucket_read_limit(connection_t *conn) {
     if (at_most > conn->receiver_bucket)
       at_most = conn->receiver_bucket;
 
+  if (at_most < 0)
+    return 0;
   return at_most;
 }