diff --git a/src/bitops.c b/src/bitops.c
index a7fad899f..f3a7747b4 100644
--- a/src/bitops.c
+++ b/src/bitops.c
@@ -768,6 +768,10 @@ void bitcountCommand(client *c) {
         /* Convert negative indexes */
         if (start < 0) start = strlen+start;
         if (end < 0) end = strlen+end;
+        if ((start < 0) && (end < 0) && (start > end)) {
+            addReply(c,shared.czero);
+            return;
+        }
         if (start < 0) start = 0;
         if (end < 0) end = 0;
         if (end >= strlen) end = strlen-1;